Trainer Steve Wolfe is hoping Rope Them In Can make a statement in Saturday’s Roma Cup (1200m) and use it as a springboard to the $5 million Kia-Quokka (1200m) on April 26.
Wolfe says Rope Them In is ready to step up for his next big encounter after disposing of his rivals with minimum fuss when resuming in the Bluff Knoll (1099m) at home in Albany.
“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.”
Sired by Playing God out of the dam Lead Rope, Rope Them In has eight wins and four placings from 18 starts with prize money and bonuses just shy of $1 million.
The four-year-old scored his most significant victory in last December’s Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m), defeating Quokka rival Westen Empire by just under a length.
He wasn’t too far off the mark when following up in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and Gold Rush (1400m), finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Wolfe said Rope Them In is trending in the right direction and after going into the Bluff Knoll slightly underdone, his fitness levels have taken a big step forward.
“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 has a double chance of taking out the Quokka with Brave Spirit representing owner Craig Thompson’s Seacorp slot.
“He’s a pretty good and competitive horse,” Wolfe said.”
Rope Them In, who will represent Tabtouch, is rated a $9 Quokka chance.
He sits behind dual Quokka champion, Overpass, who gave a timely reminder of his super claims when a brave second in the T.J.Smith Stakes (1200m) last Saturday.
Rope Them In will be ridden by Shaun McGruddy in the Roma Cup.
Julio Santarelli