It’s not always you can have a quick return from a new racehorse, but that is proving the case with Trooper who is aiming for three straight victories at Moruya today.
Trooper, who will be ridden by jockey Damon Budler from barrier four with 61.5 kilograms, will contest the last of seven races – the MAAD Accounting Ulladulla Benchmark 58 (1200m).
A four-year-old by Star Turn, Trooper was only under the care of the Natalie Jarvis stable at Canberra for a few weeks before he trialled.
The gelding had several starts in Victoria before he was purchased by some regular and new clients for $20,000 in January.
He was kept safe in the market at his Canberra debut finishing fifth on Black Opal Stakes day before running a close fourth in a Super maiden at the Albury Cup meeting at $101.
The odds were shorter next time with Trooper, or “Kevin” as he is called around the stables, winning by two and a half lengths at Canberra.
It was his next start at Bathurst where Trooper stepped it up winning by six lengths at Bathurst in new track record time of 1.9.07.
The two wins have more than recouped the purchase price of Trooper and the best is still ahead.
“If he goes like he did at Bathurst he will be hard to beat again. He should settle in the first three or four from that draw,” Natalie’s husband Luke said.
“The owners are pleased as we are with how he is going.
“He drew wide at Canberra (Friday) and when he come up with an inside draw at Moruya that was the best option.”
It’s unlikely Trooper will have to contend with last start winner Zoucat who is likely to instead start at Corowa on Monday.
“He won his maiden in similar time as they ran in the open class race at Canberra,” Luke said. “He has been a good buy so far.” The stable will also have Noctua running first-up in the Funland Ulladulla Benchmark 58 (1010m) and Caravanserai in the Milton Ulladulla Ex Servos Club Ulladulla Cup Benchmark 66 (1425m).
“Noctua has had a couple of jump outs and I feel a lot fitter first-up,” he said.
Noctua will also be ridden by Budler from the outside barrier, while Caravanserai has Jack Martin aboard from gate seven.
The ultra consistent Casino Shaw will be well fancied by the hometown crowd in the cup after recording two wins, four seconds and a third from her past seven starts.
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