Anna Roper grasps big chance in The Lakes after frustrating run of injuries

Young jockey Anna Roper has had rotten luck with injuries during her apprenticeship but gets the biggest opportunity of her career at her home track in the $500,000 The Lakes.

Anna Roper has battled back from multiple setbacks already in her apprenticeship but the young gun remains as determined as ever to make up for lost time ahead of biggest opportunity yet at Wyong on Saturday.

Roper will get the chance to put her name up in lights at the track she calls home when she pilots Super Helpful in the first edition of the $500,000 The Lakes (1600m).

It would be a fitting reward for perseverance for the talented apprentice, who has had to bounce back from untimely injuries over the past four seasons.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Roper burst on to the scene with a winner with her first ride at Gundagai in April, 2022 but suffered her first major setback just over six months later when tearing her PCL and MCL in her knee.

She spent half a year on the sidelines before bad luck struck again in April this year.

Roper injured her quadricep, which proved difficult to heal and eventually required surgery, but the issues didn’t stop there.

“It has been frustrating,“ Roper said.

“I had the quad injury and they didn’t think I would need surgery and then I ended up needing it so that was a pretty gutting one.

“Then two weeks after I’d been back I got kick in the leg and needed another two weeks out so it’s just been a bit inconsistent and stop start.

“It’s not great or for trainers who want a reliable jockey but I’ve been back for about six weeks now and it’s been nice to have some consistency.”

• Shayno and Duff’s tips, analysis for Wyong: $4.60 best bet

Roper, who is riding regular trackwork in town for the likes of Matt Smith as well as John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, has started to hit top gear in recent weeks.

She had a city winner on Boxing Day aboard Audette before booting home four winners at Port Macquarie late last month and a double at Taree earlier this week.

“I am building a bit of momentum now,” Roper said.

“My manager is doing a really good job and everything seems to be kicking into gear now hopefully.

“It’s a huge asset to be able to have a nearly full book with a few riders away.

“I was a bit unlucky with a few scratchings last week but just to have that many rides is a good thing.”

Anna Roper has fought back from a series of injuries to take her place in the $500k The Lakes at Wyong on Saturday.

Super Helpful is a $14 chance in The Lakes after snaring Big Dance eligibility with victory in the Nowra Cup last start.

Trainers Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones were on the lookout for a rider after acceptors with Super Helpful set to carry the lightweight of 52kg in The Lakes.

They were happy to put their faith in Roper.

“I hadn’t heard about the ride until I saw my name down on it, which is always a bit of a surprise but I extremely excited to ride for them in a race like that,” Roper said.

“They are a super team and their horses have been racing well of late.

“To be able to ride that light in a race with no claim, I am very excited as well as the fact the horse goes in the wet and is in form.

“There has been a lot of talk about the day and how good it is for the race club to finally have a big race of their own so to be riding in the first one and on not too bad of a chance is great.”

Among Roper’s other rides is a reunion with recent city winner Audette ($13).

The Kylie Gavenlock-trained mare lines up in the Wyong Equine Clinic F&M Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m).

“I am a little bit disappointed about Audette’s barrier (8),” Roper said.

“I thought she was probably my best bet on the card so I will have to work a little bit of magic there.

“On a firm track last start I sort of ruled her out because of the firm deck but she has come back a really sound horse this preparation so hopefully that can continue.”

While Pluckten ($61) is one of the outsiders of Roper’s book, a win on the gelding would be extra sweet.

Pluckten is trained by Roper’s boss Damien Lane and lines up on home turf in the Central Coast Community News 3&4YO Benchmark 72 (1300m).

“Pluckten is a nice horse,” Roper said.

“First-up it was too short and the track was too firm.

“He will improve, whether he can be right in it I am not sure but it will depend on how the track is and how many scratchings we have.

“I don’t think he’s completely out of it.”

Originally published as Anna Roper grasps big chance in The Lakes after frustrating run of injuries