Kropp secures double delights

MATT Kropp completed the new rare feat of winners at multiple tracks with success at Clifford Park and Charleville.

HONEST AS THEY COME: Matt Kropp’s mare Okanagan Miss (pictured winning at Clifford Park last year) picked up her seventh career victory at the weekend. Picture: Nev Madsen

RACING: Toowoomba trainer Matt Kropp was able to land a rare feat in the new times of racing in Queensland.

The new zone regulations mean that trainers are restricted to their nominated area of racing.

With setups in Toowoomba and Dalby, Kropp is able to race horses in both the Metro South West and Darling Downs regions.

It proved to be a successful formula on Saturday, as he collected four winners across Clifford Park and Charleville.

It started at the Central Warrego Race Club, where Spirit's First ($2.70 fav) made it two from two at the track with a nose victory in the Benchmark 45 Handicap (1000m).

“We’re a bit fortunate in that we’ve got two setups,” Kropp said.

“A lot of my horses were already at Dalby, and some do better when they’re trained in that environment.

“It looked like Spirit’s First got rolled.

“She won with a bit up her sleeve the last time she was there which might have had a bit to do with the win.”

In the main event on the card, the Open Handicap (1200m), Kropp finished off the day with a double, as Splitz ($4) got the best of Scrabble ($1.90 fav) by seven and three quarter lengths.

“I thought Splitz had been pretty unlucky, and it was an advantage to be on the fence and handy,” he said.

“I thought Scrabble was the better hose but not by as much as they thought.”

That strong form carried on into Clifford Park’s Easter Saturday night meeting, with Fair Fella ($2.70 fav) taking out the opening race on the card, the Hello Harry Benchmark 55 Handicap (870m).

The gelding got to the front and never looked in doubt, scoring by two lengths to make it a hat-trick on the back of wins at Miles and Roma.

“He hadn’t had a jumpout after his last at Roma,” he said.

“We were going to jump him out next week but the we thought that the 870m would do for a run.

“The $11,000 prizemoney compared to paying $100 to jumpout worked out well.

“If he can settle he’ll get further. He showed good pace and stacked them up. Racing around the country helped him to learn his craft and we’re very happy with him.”

Kropp rounded out the night with Okanagan Miss ($4.80) getting back into the winner’s circle in the Vale Darryl Gollan Benchmark 55 Handicap (1300m).

She got to the front with ease, scoring her seventh career victory by two and a half lengths.

“Her usual go is to be midfield or worse,” he said.

“She’s been beginning that well that we thought she’d stalk the speed.

“Alex (Patis) showed good initiative to hold the fence and let her travel sweetly.”

CHARLEVILLE BACK ON SKY 1

“We’re on Sky 1 for the first time since 2007.”

With those simple words, racecaller Brett Moody summed up the scenes at Charleville, which made it on to the premier racing channel for the first time in over a decade.

For many watching at home it was the first time they’ve seen racing on the dirt track at the western Queensland venue.

It marked the first time in over a decade the track had featured on the flagship channel, in the year the equine influenza crisis struck down the sport.

CLIFFORD PARK EARNS ADDITIONAL MEETING

The Toowoomba Turf Club has received yet another boost from Racing Queensland, with a new meeting scheduled to take place on Saturday night.

Following on from strong support at its inaugural Sunday meeting under the new regional zoning, Clifford Park was given an Easter Saturday meeting, which was subsequently expanded from six to eight races.

This Saturday’s meeting has again been set down for six races to take place.

TOOWOOMBA TRAINERS GET THEIR CHANCE AT IPSWICH

The latest meeting to fall under the Metro South West banner takes place at Ipswich tomorrow.

The Easter Monday meeting features nine races, with no less than 40 Toowoomba accepting to make the short trip.

This includes nine in the opening race on the program, the Queensland Times QTIS Two-Years-Old Maiden Plate (800m).

Kevin Kemp has four engaged in the event, while Lindsay Hatch has a pair to go around.

Originally published as