Scone previews: Local trainer Luke Pepper revs up for a big carnival

Trainer Luke Pepper is set to playing a starring role on Saturday at Scone but not before what could be a lucrative Cup Day thanks to the promising Fifty Five Mustang.

Fifty Five Mustang can make it back-to-back wins when he steps out his home track. Picture: Bradley Photos

Luke Pepper aims to play a cameo role on Day One of the annual Scone carnival before stepping into the spotlight alongside his bonny mare Opal Ridge in one of Saturday’s feature presentations.

Pepper, a Scone local since 2022, has three runners on the Cup Day program namely Legolas, Fifty Five Mustang and Keikoku.

On Saturday, he welcomes back his barnstorming mare Opal Ridge who strives to add this year’s Ortensia Stakes to her 2023 Luskin Star Stakes crown.

“She is definitely a winning chance but I have left a little bit in the tank with her knowing that the Grand Final is in Queensland at the end of the June in the Tatt’s Tiara so we want to be peaking on that day but she is ready to go,” Pepper said.

Opal Ridge showed stellar acceleration in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes! @djgibbons22 records a black type double. 👏 pic.twitter.com/HiAN08PnMs

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 13, 2023

“Everything is on track.”

So far as Friday is concerned, Pepper has found the perfect race at the perfect time for the lightly-raced and rapidly improving Fifty Five Mustang in the Class 2 Handicap (1300m).

Born and raised at Willow Park Stud close to the Scone track, the four-year-old has just four starts on his resume, the most recent of which was his brilliant win in a 1280m Muswellbrook Maiden on May 3.

“He is a horse that has taken a bit of time but all of it is starting to click into place and he has figured out his racing,” Pepper explained.

“He is still doing a bit wrong. He can step away a bit slow and he is still not the finished product yet but he is a horse with a lot of raw ability.

“I think stepping to the 1300m really suits him so I am looking forward to seeing him step out over a bit further.

“We will ride him quite negative from the barrier and just let him find his feet and hope he is strong late. He’s got an electric turn of foot.

“I think if he came out and won, we’d definitely be looking to find a Highway next start.”

Despite drifting late with @tabcomau Fifty Five Mustang lets down powerfully over the concluding stages to take the first at @thebrookracing 👊 pic.twitter.com/HS4RRAkwAC

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2024

Meanwhile, the likelihood of a dry track at Scone is a boost to both horse (Keikoku) and trainer (Pepper) ahead of the Newgate Class 2 Handicap (1300m).

“The poor horse has just been doing wheel spins on wet surfaces,” Pepper said.

“He’s been running well but he is better than what his form reads

“The 1300m is ideal and if he can get a drier surface I think he will be highly competitive.”

Pepper will break out a set of the Darby Bloodstock silks and hand them to Country Championship Final winning jockey Ben Looker prior to the Pryde’s Easifeed Class 1 Handicap (1100m).

The race, halfway through the Cup Day card, will mark Legolas’ ‘stable debut’ for Pepper having relocated from Bjorn Baker’s Warwick Farm headquarters.

“He is coming off the back of a pretty long spell and he will probably improve into his prep but it just looked a nice option for him first-up on his home track,” Pepper said.

“He had a nice couple of trials and I am pretty happy with the horse.

“We rode him a little bit quieter in his second trial which I think is going to be the play on Friday and just give him an opportunity to hit the line.”

MINERVINI BACKING SPRIGGS TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL RETURN IN CUP

Mark Minervini has served up prodigal son Blake Spriggs the perfect opportunity to announce his return home with a win in the coveted Scone Cup (1600m).

Minervini has the former Lloyd Williams-owned gelding Hosier set to add his name to the honour roll which includes 2008 winner Obvious Choice who was ridden by Spriggs’ father, Dale.

“Blake has relocated back from Brisbane and he’s moved to Newcastle. He has been riding a bit of trackwork for me and I am going to reward him with some rides,” Minervini said.

“He rode a winner for us on Monday at Muswellbrook.

“I have enjoyed his company actually. His communication is outstanding.

Hosier proves too good in the G3 Premiers Cup! 🏆

He relished the 2000m and soft conditions. pic.twitter.com/70RqmFPdWe

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 19, 2023

“He is very free with his time and he has an opinion but he is open to what I want to do.”

The Scone Cup will be Spriggs’ first race ride on Hosier but not the first time he has sat on the reigning ATC Premier’s Cup winner’s back.

“Blake galloped him on Wednesday morning and he worked very strongly and he pulled up very clean in the wind so he is good to go.”

Hosier, a seven-year-old son of English and Irish Derby winner Camelot, has won eight times in 21 starts at distances ranging from 1500m to 2000m, as well as a close third in the 2300m Newcastle Cup.

“My take on Hosier is that he is a mile to 2000m horse not a mile and a half horse and he just needs a soft track to perform,” said Minervini who bought the Irish-bred gelding online in May 2023 for $100,000.

And while his new owners are all well in front on that deal, Minervini’s $200,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge hopeful, Shall Be, was positively stolen by comparison.

“I bought him at the Scone Yearling Sale for $8,000,” the former Morphettville master said.

“I went there with a budget of $30,000 to $40,000 to buy him because I really liked him.

“There was no reserve on him and we got him for eight thousand so he has been a good buy.”

A direct relation to Golden Slipper winner, Belle Du Jour, Shall Be has won $34,175 in the space of two starts, the most recent of which was his Newcastle Maiden win in 900m run in sub-52 seconds.

“He has got enormous gate speed,” Minervini said.

“We will try and use it to our advantage and they will have run him down if they are going to win.”

Originally published as Scone previews: Local trainer Luke Pepper revs up for a big carnival