Luke Pepper said “it was just silly” the amount of money he was losing every year because workers’ compensation fees are now so high in Canberra.
Which is why his move to Scone – a big reason behind Opal Ridge’s outstanding victory in the $500,000 Tapp-Craig at Randwick in shocking Heavy 10 conditions – brought about so much respect across the racing industry on Saturday.
It was only in July when Pepper told HorseBetting.com.au he had no choice but to leave the nation’s capital because racing does not receive the amount of financial support it’s crying out for from the ACT Government.
Combine Pepper’s hardships with the fact Opal Ridge – never mind the $2.40 favouritism – beat horses from top Sydney stables including James Cummings, Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and he was the toast of Randwick.
You just couldn’t help but be delighted for the small country trainer who still rides his rapidly emerging three-year-old filly everyday.
With Tyler Schiller aboard, it was yet another fairytale story which this amazing sport continues to provide us with.
“Massive result. It’s the biggest win of my career. She was dynamite and I’m so proud of her,” Pepper told HorseBetting.com.au.
“They were pretty testing conditions and she tried her guts out. There was huge prizemoney on the line and we were happy to be able to win that race.”
Pepper was delighted to celebrate Saturday’s win alongside connections, who were just as thrilled.
But in the midst of the celebrations, he couldn’t help but spare a thought for his peers still doing it tough in Canberra.
That includes veteran conditioner Keith Dryden, 77, who last month told HorseBetting.com.au the ACT Greens were “trying to put us out of business”.
“(I think about my peers in Canberra) all the time. It’s where I started my racing career,” Pepper said.
“I was there for a long time. It’s just sad seeing it all crumbling like it is.
“There are some really good people down there and people who rely on racing for their living.
“It’s just sad the way it’s going. Everybody’s having to move. But it is what it is.
“There’s nothing else we could’ve done about it. We all seemed to try out best and got nowhere.
“The only real option is to move, and that’s what everybody is going to have to do.”
Pepper has made the most out of a challenging situation and he is thoroughly enjoying the top-class facilities at Scone, which he has previously described as a town quickly becoming “the epicentre of country racing in NSW”.
Opal Ridge is also thriving, winning three from six starts this year after Pepper shipped her there with her stablemates in June.
“It’s been the best move of my life. We had to make a decision to move and we did it,” he said.
“Luckily enough we’ve had an incredible run up here with really good staff and everything’s gone really well.
“She (Opal Ridge) has helped the team along, without a doubt. Every stable needs a pin-up horse and she’s definitely helped us.
“We couldn’t be happier. It’s a great place to train and live.”
It was also a move which just had to happen because Pepper was losing a lot of money in Canberra.
Skyrocketing workers’ compensation costs – which ACT trainers say they now face without government support – forced his hand.
“Driving out of Canberra racecourse to Scone, I’m saving about $60,000 a year,” Pepper said.
“For a pretty small trainer like me, it’s a lot of money to start behind everybody else.
“It’s hard enough as it is to have that hanging over your head the whole time.
“Financially, it just doesn’t make sense. We’ve only got to drive across the border to save that money.”
Pepper is fast making up that lost money with his high-value stable star, Opal Ridge.
The first foal out of three-time Canberra winner Chadana, a half-sister to Adrian Knox Stakes winner Candelara – cost part-owner Ryan Hunt just $20,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
“From day dot she was just above average. She’s such a straightforward filly to train and she’s got that killer instinct – she doesn’t know how to run a bad race,” Pepper said.
“We’ve always thought a lot of her, and she’s really starting to fulfil her potential.
“I was pretty happy with her early days as a two-year-old, and we bought her sister, Diamond Ridge, because of that.
“She hasn’t raced yet – she’s only two. We’re very happy with her as well.
“It’s what racing is all about. A cheap yearling but who’s owned by a great group of owners. They’re all battlers.
“Some of them have been in racing a long time and haven’t had a horse anything like her before, including myself.
“So it’s been quite an amazing ride. The good thing about it is it’s only just starting.”
Pepper is constantly impressed with Opal Ridge’s mental toughness and class because he rides her everyday.
This was why her gutsy and comfortable near 2 ½-length win in Heavy 10 conditions on Saturday did not surprise him.
“She’s unbelievable. I ride her everyday. She’s great. She’s your ultimate professional,” Pepper said.
“Nothing fazes her. She does everything right. I couldn’t ask for much more from a horse, really.
“She won on a Heavy 8 at Randwick, but my main issue was could she step up to 1400, or handle heavy ground?
“But I don’t think I’ve seen horses race on a track like that, or I don’t think any horse has seen anything like that.
“She got through it really well. She’s extremely fit – she’s obviously had a pretty long prep, and that was on her side.
“She’s going to the paddock for a well-deserved spell. We topped it off with an amazing win and she’s got nothing more to prove.”
Pepper admits he was disappointed Opal Ridge did not receive a slot for the $2 million Kosciuszko over 1200m at Randwick next Saturday – the world’s richest race for country-trained horses.
“I was disappointed for her. I didn’t think she could’ve done any more. We came up with a deal with all my clients, and we said 50-50. And 50-50 wasn’t good enough to get us in,” he said.
“The ticketholders wanted more. We stuck to our guns and kept on our own path. I don’t think she could’ve done much more to get into the race.”
However, like his move to Scone from Canberra, Pepper chooses to be optimistic, particularly given how bright his filly’s future now looks.
“But it is what it is now. She’s only a three-year-old filly and she’s got her whole career ahead of her,” he said.
“That (a Kosciuszko start) might come next year, who knows?”
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