The veteran and up-and-comer in Wolfe’s Winterbottom Stakes bid
An ageing warrior and an up-and-comer.
Veteran trainer Steve Wolfe has the Winterbottom Stakes loaded with two horses at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Red Can Man has been Wolfe’s stable flag bearer for years and as an eight-year-old he’s having his fifth attempt at landing the major prize in Perth’s most lucrative sprint race.
The Gingerbread Man gelding has been a warrior for Wolfe, he’s collected $1.2 million in prizemoney, won three Listed races in Perth and achieved a personal best in the Group 3 Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield when under the care of David Brideoake.
Rope Them In is the heir apparent to Red Can Man who will pass the baton to his younger stablemate, bred and part-owned by former Richmond and South Fremantle star, Noel Carter, if continues his rate of improvement.
A son of boom local sire, Playing God, Rope Them In gave a portent of things to come with a trio of smart wins during the winter at Belmont and Ascot and gave a perfect audition for the Winterbottom Stakes with victory in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m).
Demonstrating a powerful turn of foot, it was Rope Them In’s first win in stakes company after a second in the Fairetha Stakes (1400m) last year and took his record to seven wins and four placings from 15 starts since winning on debut last year.
Rapt to take out the Colonel Reeves Stakes, the experienced Wolfe said Rope Them In will need to elevate and go to another level again to reach Group 1 status in the Winterbottom Stakes, but he has upmost faith that his emerging galloper can rise to the challenge.
“He hasn’t gone backwards and I’m sure he’s held his condition,” Wolfe said on Tabradio.
“Obviously the biggest trick is the raise in weights, from a handicap to weight for age.
“But, he’s given me every indication that he’ll handle a rise in class.
“He looks well and Shaun (McGruddy) was down here (Albany) yesterday (Tuesday) to ride him and couldn’t fault him.
“He’s a very sound horse and an emerging horse.
“His let go speed is quite exciting and that sets the good ones apart from the other ones.
“I know there are some handy ones in it, but I’m sure he’ll produce a similar run (Colonel Reeves) and be very competitive.”
With several of the fancied and speed runners drawing out wide, Rope Them In, with Shaun Mcgruddy, will negotiate his spot from barrier nine.
“With the amount of pressure that’s going to be in the race will suit him,” Wolfe said.
“He can be wherever he wants to be; he could be running third, he could be running tenth.
“He’s not going to have too many issues; the rest is up to Shaun.”
Red Can Man hasn’t been seen since the Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) when he ran sixth of eight to Bravo Centurion first-up.
Aiming for his first win since the Crawford Stakes (1000m) last year, his Winterbottom task was made harder after drawing barrier 11.
On the positive side is the booking of Shaun O’Donnell who has an uncanny knack of striking when first up on a new mount.
One of the outsiders in the Winterbottom, Wolfe is hoping Red Can Man has one more big race left in him to take out.
“It would have been nice if he could have drawn closer,” Wolfe said.
“We’ve deliberately kept him up to the mark and fresh.
“He always races well second and third up.
“He’s been a wonderful horse with durability.
“There’s still a race or two in him, but they’re hard to find at this level.”
Rope Them In is $13 with Tabtouch and Red Can Man is $67.
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...