Kropp and Vast Kama shooting for successive wins

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Matt Kropp is keeping a close watch on the weather as he chases another win from Vast Kama at Ipswich on Monday.

Vast Kama is one of three Kropp entries on the seven event Ipswich card which could be affected if the forecast for rain eventuates over the weekend.

Vast Kama, who is set to be ridden by Samantha Collett, looks the best of Kropp’s runners in the Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1200 metres.

He also accepted with Calm Seeker in the Class 3 Handicap over 1666 metres and Learning Curve over 1100 metres.

“At this stage Learning Curve probably won’t run after she drew wide but I’ll wait and see what the weather is like first,” Kropp said.

Vast Kama was an impressive last start winner in a 1000 metre Class 3 at the Sunshine Coast on April 3 following a close fourth in a Benchmark race over the same trip at Eagle Farm in mid-March.

The Spirit Of Boom gelding is widely travelled having raced at Emerald and Rockhampton in Central Queensland and Mackay in North Queensland.

Kropp is a great believer and subscribes to the theory that horses improve greatly after travelling.

“I do believe travelling a horse can improve them a lot,” Kropp said.

Kropp was impressed with Vast Kama’s latest Sunshine Coast victory and expected him to be competitive again.

“He’s in good order and is holding up well,” Kropp said.

“He’s had a long preparation and has only had a few ease ups along the way.

“His last win at the Sunshine Coast was super and he ran good time.”

Calm Seeker also produced a good run last start, running on strongly for fourth to the Kelly Schweida-trained Vitesse Francis in a Benchmark 65 over 1680 metres at Ipswich on April 20.

Meanwhile, Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa is hopeful of a snaring few more winners ahead of his full-time move to Dubai next month.

Costa accepted with six horses in three races but has already scratched dual acceptor Numbers Games from the Class 3 Handicap.

Costa has inked a deal to be private trainer for Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and is expected to head off overseas in June.

A former NSW steward before turning his hand to training, Costa has become one of South East Queensland’s rising stars since moving to the Gold Coast.

Costa has already announced new trainers including Annabel Neasham and his former racing manager Michael Morrison to take over the bulk of his stable.