Trainer Luke Pepper, still in awe of Opal Ridge’s outstanding second in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes, can gain some compensation for the narrow loss when his stable trio Lord Finland, Powderfinger and Ilzoomya line up at their Scone home track meeting on Tuesday.
Pepper was in a reflective mood when commenting on star three-year-old filly Opal Ridge’s effort last Saturday to race three and four-wide without cover and beat all but Comrade Rosa at Eagle Farm.
“It was a hard watch but Opal Ridge was unbelievable. She has a heart bigger than herself, we are extremely proud of her,” Pepper said.
“They went slower than I thought and she was posted wide. It wasn’t pretty but it wasn’t the riders fault, either.
“The good news is she pulled up great. She went back to the stables and threw her head into the feed bin and seems as good as gold.”
Pepper confirmed plans to keep Opal Ridge in training for the final Group 1 race of the 2022-23 season in the $700,000 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 24 where the filly has been installed as the $3.50 TAB Fixed Odds favourite.
“I’ve given her a couple of easy days to get over the Dane Ripper run,” Pepper added.
“I will ride her again tomorrow (Tuesday morning) but all the signs are good she is in track for the Tiara.”
Comrade Rosa seals Stradbroke Day at double figures!@tonygollan trains a treble. pic.twitter.com/Pgq920LHbb
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 10, 2023
Pepper will be hoping for better luck in running for Lord Finland, Powderfinger and Ilzoomya at the Scone Tuesday meeting.
Lord Finland, rated at $10 in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting behind two-year-old Tapa Kick at $2.50, dose appear Pepper’s best winning chance when he contests the Coolmore Maiden (1300m).
Pepper said Lord Finland has improved with his two runs this preparation and can break his maiden at his ninth career start.
“Lord Finland’s two runs since joining my stable have been very good,” Pepper said.
“He found the 1000m too short first-up but he still worked home well then his run at Newcastle the other day was super.
“They really burned along and put him out of his comfort zone a bit but he was good late to finish fourth.
“The blinkers go on, he’s back on his home track. If he gets any luck from the gate he will be thereabouts.”
Pepper said he is “still learning” about new stable recruit Powderfinger who lines up in the Inglis Class 1 Handicap (1100m).
Powderfinger hasn’t run since finishing fifth at Goulburn in March but Pepper is cautious about the grey filly’s chances over the Scone sprint trip.
“She is going well but is probably better suited on wet ground and over further,” the trainer said. “But she looks great and everything is on track with her so I’m hopeful she will be thereabouts.”
Powderfinger is a $26 chance behind Extra Smart who heads betting at $3.30 but is being pressed for favouritism by Golden Fighter at $4.20 while Enzino ($4.80) and Bubbles For Me ($5) are also in the market.
Ilzoomya needs to stage racing’s ultimate form reversal to win the Arrowfield Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m).
Pepper was left searching for answers after Ilzoomya failed to beat a rival to the line in a Randwick Highway won by Demitasse last start.
The effort was in stark contrast to Ilzoomya’s game third in a class 1 on Scone Cup Day two starts back.
“Ilzoomya is a real hit and miss type of horse,” Pepper said.
“He was disappointing last start but he is back on his home track and if he can reproduce his Scone run two starts back he can run a good race.”
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have Ilzoomya at $17 in overnight betting behind $3.80 favourite Shen Gui.