By Glenn Davis
Trainer Matt Kropp is hoping his love affair with the Dalby Cup will continue with city winner Rosie Posie on Saturday.
Rosie Posie won at Kilcoy last Saturday and Kropp concedes the seven-day back-up is a concern for the seven-year-old mare in the 1400-metre feature.
“She won well at Kilcoy last week considering we had some doubt about her at the distance and on the tight track,” Kropp said.
“She’s never gone that well on a seven-day back-up in the past but we don’t have many options for her.
“After this she’ll probably go out for a break.”
Rosie Posie was ridden by apprentice Adin Thompson at Kilcoy but will have a change of jockey with Hannah Phillips on board for the Dalby Cup.
Kropp has won the Dalby Cup four times with Uncle Jan, Modern Al, Billy Goat and Zip To The Moon and is confident Rosie Posie can continue his luck.
“Her record at Dalby is quite good with three wins and a second from six starts so she should run well,” he said.
Rosie Posie has started 46 times for nine wins and 11 placings for retired accountant and owner breeder Michael Kelly.
Kelly also bred and owns the Kropp-trained Droplet who tackles the Plough Inn Cup (1400m).
Droplet is a five-year-old mare who has had only nine starts for two placings and is coming off a last start fifth at Gympie.
“Michael bred both Rosie Posie and Droplet so it would be nice to have some luck with both,” Kropp said.
Kropp had a good year last season finishing in the top 20 in the Queensland trainers’ premiership but has had a slow start this season.
“We had a good year last season finishing 14th State-wide but we haven’t had that many runners this season which is why we’ve started slowly,” he said.
However, the slow start won’t deter him from heading to next week’s Birdsville Cup meeting with a team of five on Sunday morning.
Racing Queensland webnews August 30