Kropp family face off in The Eagle Way

By Glenn Davis

It will be a case of master versus the apprentice when the Kropp family go head-to-head in The Eagle Way at Doomben on Saturday.

Toowoomba trainer Matt Kropp saddles Red Defcon in the 2000 metre feature while son Will is chasing his biggest win of his short career with Bilpa Morea.

Will has only been training for four years and has a team of six in work at Toowoomba and works alongside his father Matt, who has 25 In work.

Matt is chasing his second win in The Eagle Way following his success with Trusty Lad in 2018.

Red Defcon hasn’t missed a place in nine starts for Matt's long-time owner John Wagstaff who bred the daughter of Defcon.

“I raced her mother Red Beach but she had a breathing issue so I sold her to John and Red Defcon is her first foal,” Matt said.

Red Defcon’s only win was first-up in a maiden at the Sunshine Coast in September and she has since been placed at her four subsequent starts.

The filly has been placed twice at Eagle Farm and is coming off a last start second to More Trouble at the Sunshine Coast on November 18.

“I think More Trouble looks to be very good the way she beat us last time,” Matt said.

Matt also has a share in Bilpa Morea who was a cheap $12,500 buy at the Karaka Breeze Up Sales in New Zealand.

Bilpa Morea is yet to win in five starts but produced an eye-catching performance last start finishing strongly for fourth in a 1710 metre maiden at Grafton on November 16.

“I think she’ll run a handy race and the chances are Will could knock me off,” Matt said.

Matt admits he’s unsure how both fillies will handle a wet track with Doomben in the soft range.

“I’m not sure how the Defcon’s handle the wet but Red Defcon’s mother is by Red Dazzler and they all seemed to go well in the wet,” Matt said.

New Zealand-bred Bilpa Morea is still a maiden and a $35 outsider in latest markets behind $3.80 favourite Felix The Scat while Red Defcon is a $7 chance.

Champion trainer Tony Gollan now trains Felix the Scat after being moved on from the father-and-son training partnership of Peter and Will Hulbert.

The colt has started twice for Gollan and earned his favouritism tag following an eye-catching fifth to More Trouble over 1600 metres at the Sunshine Coast on November 18.