Progressive Albany galloper Rope Them In makes sizzling return, in line for carnival tilt for Wolfe stable

Exciting carnival prospect Rope Them In made a slashing return to racing on Saturday at the final meeting of the Belmont Park season. Albany trainer Steve Wolfe holds high hopes for the progressive four-year-old and he delivered with a superb first-up win after a spell of more than 100 days. Rope Them In was well supported into a $2.45 favourite in the Drummond Golf Handicap (1200m) on the back of a strong second in a recent barrier trial. Ridden by Shaun McGruddy, the Albany galloper settled perfectly in fourth behind main danger Toropa, who was chasing a fifth successive win. However at the top of the home straight McGruddy got him off the rail and away from the tiring Toropa and they found an opening before charging to the line to win by a length. The first-up victory has Rope Them In firmly in the frame to tackle some of WA’s biggest races in the upcoming Pinnacles carnival. An elated Wolfe said post-race that despite carrying 60kg as top weight, his horse was flying and set for a big campaign. “It’s nice to have a horse like this,” he said. “If you are on the right horse and you ride positively, when the gap comes if they are good enough it makes a hell of a difference. “I don’t worry about weight with a good horse, you are better off carrying the weight (not claiming).” Rope Them In won twice in June at Belmont before a spell and has now won three in a line and already has an impressive career strike rate of six wins and three placings in 12 starts. Wolfe said his young star was likely to progress to a 78+ handicap over 1400 on opening day at Ascot on October 12 before plans are made for a carnival tilt. The master Albany trainer said the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) would be his likely target. “I think the Winterbottom is probably more his cup of tea,” Wolfe said. “Two or three weeks going into (the Winterbottom) nice and fresh after a couple of months in Albany, I think you’ll see a different horse again. “I just hope he holds up.” McGruddy said in his post-race interview that the Playing God gelding had a big future. “He’s got a motor and he’s pretty versatile,” he said. “He’s half their size, even more merit to win with 60kg because he’s only a pony. “Have a look at the Winterbottom and then the Goldrush would be my advice.” Wolfe and McGruddy will team up in Wednesday’s $150,000 Hannans Handicap with River Rubicon at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club. The six-year-old is drawn awkwardly but opened a $9 chance in the listed 1400m feature race off the back of an impressive second to Rokanori in the TABtouch at Belmont last month.