Trainer Steve Wolfe is hoping Rope Them In can make his presence felt in Saturday’s Roma Cup (1200m) as a launching pad toward the $5 million Quokka (1200m) on April 26.
Fresh off a convincing win in the Bluff Knoll (1099m) at Albany, Wolfe believes the gelding is well-prepared to raise the bar.
“He’s in good order and it’s obviously going to be a cracking field,” Wolfe said on Tabradio.
“The next one (Quokka) is a step up which is his main mission, but we’ve been ticking him along.
“He’s as good as he needs to be, 1100m might be a step short for him.
“Hopefully we get through this unscathed and then get ready for the big dance.
“If we get through this one, I’m sure he’ll be competitive.”
By Playing God out of Lead Rope, Rope Them In has racked up eight wins and four placings from 18 outings, with earnings closing in on $1 million.
He posted a career highlight in the Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) last December, holding off Westen Empire in a strong finish.
He also placed well in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes and Gold Rush, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Wolfe said the gelding has made strong progress since returning from a freshen-up.
“He’ll be a bit sharper than he was a couple of weeks ago,” Wolfe said.
“He was a bit below his best, around 80 per cent.
“It was a bit nerve racking because everyone expected him to win.
“We weren’t over impressed going into the Bluff Knoll to be honest.
“In his trial, I didn’t say too much, but I was disappointed.
“I’d probably taken it a bit easy with him.
“I’ve stepped it up a little since then and his weight is close to where it needs to be now.
“He’s up and about at the moment and his work this morning (Tuesday) was sharp.”
Wolfe also has Brave Spirit ready for a tilt at the Quokka, representing the Seacorp slot owned by Craig Thompson.
“He’s a pretty good and competitive horse,” Wolfe said.
Rope Them In, representing Tabtouch, is currently priced at $9 for the Quokka.
Only Overpass, the back-to-back winner, sits ahead of him in the betting after his gallant second in the T.J.Smith Stakes last weekend.
Shaun McGruddy will be aboard Rope Them In for Saturday’s Roma Cup.
