Formidable combination Steve Wolfe and Shaun McGruddy have combined with Rope Them In ($8.50) to claim the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot Racecourse.
Having been competitive in weaker company to begin his campaign, horse racing bookmakers were keeping the son of Playing God safe following his 1.6 length defeat behind race rival, and key market fancy Almighty Class ($3.50).
Not only would Rope Them In turn the tables on Almighty Class, the four-year-old gelding would go on to stamp his claims towards a race like the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) following Saturday’s success.
With Snowdome and Man Crush setting a genuine tempo throughout, the race was always going to be set up for a horse that had cover in the second-half of the field.
McGruddy quickly found the back of Almighty Class once that runner was caught wide without cover, and as that horse started to tire in the home straight, Rope Them In produced a strong finish to put the race to bed with 100m to go.
The eye-catching run was without a doubt from Western Empire, who started a $2.45 favourite with Picklebet. William Pike was racing in restricted room throughout from barrier one aboard the class horse in the field, and once the gaps appeared inside the final 150m, he surged late to go down by less than a length.
2024 Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes Replay – Rope Them In
Trainer Steve Wolfe was all smiles following the performance.
“I always thought he was 1200, 1100 (metre) horse,” Wolfe said.
“He’s a genuine horse, he hasn’t had much luck this time in, but the three deep line, a beautiful ride, well-trained and away we go.
“He has got a good turn of foot, and I don’t have to do too much with him now.”
McGruddy, who picked up his third win in the Colonel Reeves Stakes was full of praise for the classy sprinter post-race.
“This horse has been looking for a better horses race,” he said.
“The races he has been in there’s been no speed, he’s drawn well or he has had a lot of weight where you do not want to get back.
“Up in grade and although it looked like he was out of his depth, I always thought that is what he was looking for.”
Following the win, Neds have marked Rope Them In as a $26 for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes, in from $41 pre-race.
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