A perfect maiden four-timer for Anna Roper highlighted a provincial trainers’ rout of today’s Port Macquarie meeting.
The talented Wyong apprentice’s four winners from four rides included a double for her master, Wyong trainer Damien Lane, and she also scored for fellow Wyong trainers Kristen Buchanan and Kim Waugh.
This was a scheduled provincial meeting transferred from Gosford as The Entertainment Grounds isn’t due to resume racing until February 22.
Roper, whose career has been dogged by injury, resumed riding only early last month after being off the scene since late July when she underwent further surgery on a troublesome knee, broke back into the city winning list at Royal Randwick on Boxing Day on Gosford trainer Kylie Gavenlock’s mare Audette.
She was successful on Turf Fever ($4.60) and Sneaky Sofia ($2.40 favorite) for Lane, Broadway Bouncer ($11) for Buchanan, and $3.10 favorite River Pat for Waugh.
Newcastle trainers David Atkins (Rockbarton Flash, $1.35 favorite), ridden by apprentice William Stanley), and Jason Deamer (Jack Duggan, $8), ridden by Ash Morgan, along with Gosford’s Greg McFarlane (Whispering Muriel, $10), ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, joined the provincial party.
In Deamer’s case, it was the second year in a row he had won the Lord Mayor’s Cup (a Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap, 2000m) with Jack Duggan.
The Irish import had Chad Schofield aboard when he scored last year at Gosford on New Year’s Eve.
Lane, who also welcomed a change of luck (his previous winner was Oakfield Peewee at Taree on December 3), was understandably thrilled to see his apprentice enjoy such a fantastic day.
“It’s marvellous how things can change in this game,” he said as he prepared to return home.
“Anna was starting to wonder where her next winner was going to come from, and then she wins at Randwick on Boxing Day and now gets four from four at Port Macquarie.
“This is a tremendous boost for her, and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here.
“She has worked hard to get back to riding and put all the bad luck behind her.”
Whilst Lane’s double lifted his career tally to 310, Roper’s haul took her overall tally to 137.
The 22-year-old, who was successful at her first ride (Alpha Go for trainer Tony Newing at Gundagai on April 3, 2022), rode 74 winners last season even though she was unable to compete for the full racing year.
She won the Rising Star Series for apprentice riders, and prior to scoring on Audette in town on Boxing Day, had ridden only one winner (Le Souci at Tuncurry on December 9) in her latest comeback in the saddle.
. Although leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees had four placings – which included $2.50 favorite Like Lukey’s third in the Lord Mayor’s Cup seeking four wins on end – at Port Macquarie, he was successful at the Sunshine Coast.
UK import Inver Park (Andrew Mallyon) won the Open Handicap (1400m) as a $2.50 favorite.
Story John Curtis, December 29, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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