Wyong based apprentice Anna Ropa has seven mounts including two for the Waterhouse-Bott stable on Saturday’s eight race program at Newcastle. Roper has ridden 39.5 winners this season including 10.5 winners on Metropolitan tracks, but she still claims 1.5 kilograms on Provincial tracks.
The first of the Waterhouse-Bott runners is the 3-year-old Sisu Spirit in the 1500 metre Insight Building Services Maiden Handicap. On debut at Newcastle in an October Super Maiden he stormed home over 1200 metres to be beaten a head by French Ruler in a strong race. After a failure at Warwick Farm Sisu Spirit went for a spell and he was impressive winning a recent Hawkesbury trial.
Roper’s other mount for the powerhouse stable is the Kiwi 3-year-old Criteria on debut in Australia. The son of Contributor has had four starts in New Zealand for a win and two placings. He has had two trials in Sydney and resumes in the 1600 metre Osborn Law Benchmark 68 Handicap with a number of gear changes. Criteria has been gelded since his last start in New Zealand and blinkers go on for the first time.
Paul Perry has booked Roper to ride three-year-old Passalacqua in the second event of the day, the 1200 metre Dalton Partners Maiden Plate. The gelding’s first run at Gosford on March 27 was full of merit, he came from last and raced green in the straight before a strong finish took him within 2.5 lengths of the winner at the post. The longer trip on Saturday is in his favour. Roper also rides the I Am Invincible filly of Ciaron Maher’s Trounce, one of the chances on the 1200 metre QMF Construction Maiden Plate.
The Kris Lees trained Japanese bred filly Éclair Encore will benefit from stable apprentice Ben Osmond’s 2-kilogram claim in the 1500 metre Century 21 Aaron Walter Class 1 Handicap. Originally handicapped to carry 59 kilograms the filly will carry 57 kilograms, 1.5kgs less than she carried when a gutsy third, first up on this track on March 20. Éclair Encore was only 1.89 lengths from the winner in the Group 3 Newcastle Spring Stakes in November. She has a nice barrier, and the longer trip is ideal.
Hawkesbury trained mare Webejamin, a last start Newcastle winner is well placed in the 1850 metre Aplas Group Benchmark 64 Handicap. She has had three starts on this track for a win and two seconds and she raced on the speed and outstayed the opposition over this trip on March 20.
Former Central West trainer Mark Milton who trains at Scone these days will travel to Newcastle with Remember Jack to run in the 1200 metre Team EST Benchmark 68 Handicap. The gelding had solid metropolitan Highway form in December and January. After a nine-week break Remember Jack turned in an eye-catching performance to come from last to finish fourth in the Muswellbrook Skellatar Sprint on March 28. He has the rails barrier and former Newcastle apprentice Louise Day has the mount on Saturday.
Hampden, racing in the opening event the Lambourne Partners Insurance Class 1 & Maiden Plate (2200m) is knocking on the door with close seconds at Newcastle and Hawkesbury recently and is the shortest priced favourite on Saturday and should vindicate the short quote. He was unlucky when beaten a nose at Newcastle on April 1 after being held up in the straight.
It is the Lambourne Partners Insurance Race Day with the track on Friday rated a Good 4.