William Kropp sticks to winning formula

By Glenn Davis

Trainer William Kropp is hopeful the New Zealand-bred Bilpa Morea and jockey Madeleine Wishart can continue their successful association at Toowoomba on Thursday.

Bilpa Morea was a $12,500 buy at the Ready to Run sales at Karaka in New Zealand and will step out for her 31st start in the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 2000 metres.

The daughter of Reliable Man has won four times for Kropp and on each occasion was ridden by Wishart.

Bilpa Morea is chasing a hat-trick of wins after dominant victories over 1700 metres at Ipswich last month before an easy win when stepping up to 2000 metres at Dalby on April 8.

The 24-year-old Kropp has been training since the 2019-20 season after a long stint working alongside his father, popular Toowoomba trainer Matt Kropp.

“I’ve decided to stick with Maddy as she’s been on him for four wins,” Kropp said.

“She’s a New Zealand-bred mare and it’s taken a bit of time for her to reach her potential.

“I considered setting her on a Queensland Oaks campaign as a three-year-old but it took too long to strengthen her up.”

Kropp has lowered his ambitions with Bilpa Morea and has no major winter plans in mind for the upcoming Queensland Racing Carnival.

“I’ll just stick to the lesser races around the South East for the time being but hopefully she’ll race well again this week,” he said.

Bilpa Morea has started eight times for two wins and as many placings at Toowoomba and is proven over 2000 metres.

“She likes racing at Toowoomba and likes this distance,” Kropp said.

“There’s a lot of strategy involved in races like this and not necessarily the best horse wins.”

Kropp is hoping the stars are aligning for Bilpa Morea and stablemate Prince Levi who will tackle the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Prince Levi’s performance will decide if the son of Casino Prince continues on a Group 1 Queensland Derby path.

In his last appearance, Prince Levi finished sixth to the Chris Waller-trained Liberty Park over 2000 metres at Doomben on April 1.

“I was happy with his last run but he was a bit luckless down the straight,” Kropp said.

“If he races well this week he’ll go down the Queensland Derby path.”