Albany-trained galloper Rope Them In carries Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) ambitions after launching the Ascot Pinnacles carnival in dominant fashion on Saturday.
Perth’s premier $1.5 million sprint is firmly in the sights of the Steve Wolfe-trained four-year-old who validated his credentials with a sweeping finish in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m).
Ridden by Shaun Mcgruddy and starting at $7.20, Rope Them In settled three-wide with cover and accelerated quickly from seventh position to cruise home by ¾ quarters of a length from favourite, Western Empire.
The runner-up lost the battle to Rope Them In in the Colonel Reeves, but could yet still win the war in the Winterbottom Stakes after a luckless run. He charged home late after only getting a clear run passing the 150m mark.
Saloon Bar was another two lengths away in third place after producing a strong finish from near the tail of the field.
Almighty Class battled away gamely for fourth after racing wide throughout.
Wolfe, who has maintained a high opinion of Rope Them In from early days, said the addition of blinkers proved the winning move.
“I thought if we were going to be up against the big boys, I had to pull out all stops with the blinkers,” Wolfe said.
“He’s a nice horse, a genuine horse and I always thought he was a 1200 hundred, 1100 hundred one.
“The plan was always to come back in two weeks for the Winterbottom, he’s a short-course horse.
“He’s got a turn of foot and I don’t have to do too much with him.”
Rope Them In gave McGruddy his third win in the Colonel Reeves Stakes after Durendal (2019) and The Rising (2014).
McGruddy believed it was race tempo rather than the addition of blinkers or a 5kg drop in weight from his previous start that paved the way for victory.
Posting his first major win after a second in the Fairetha Stakes (1400m) last year, McGruddy says Rope Them In performs best against quality opposition.
“I think it was the genuine speed,” McGruddy said.
“This horse has been looking for a better horse’s race.
“The races he’s been in have had no speed.
“Up in grade, although it looked as if he was out of his depth, I always knew that’s what he was looking for.”
Rope Them In is currently quoted $8.50 with Tabtouch for the Winterbottom.
Western Empire is the $6.50 second favourite behind, Overpass ($3.20).