Rope Them In claims impressive Colonel Reeves win, on track for Winterbottom Stakes for trainer Steve Wolfe

Brilliant Albany sprinter Rope Them In strengthened his prospects for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes after a superb victory in the $200,000 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) on Saturday. The Steve Wolfe-trained Rope Them In finished powerfully in the home straight to claim the Group 3 feature race by nearly one length. After a first-up win to start this campaign, the four-year-old then ran second over 1400m and was fifth to Almighty Class on October 26. Rope Them In jumped a $7.50 chance and settled in the back half of the field at Ascot, but McGruddy made up crucial ground on the outside as they approached the final turn. Western Empire, a $2.60 favourite, was held up near the fence and charged home late, but Rope Them In had his measure to record the best win of his blossoming career. It was a seventh win from 15 starts for the son of Playing God, and all attention now turns to the $1 million Winterbottom Stakes on November 30. The addition of blinkers and a drop back to 55kg were crucial to the victory, Wolfe said. “He is a genuine horse and I thought if we are going to amongst the big boys we have to pull out all stops today,” he said after the race. “He hasn’t had a lot of luck this time in, but in the three-deep line it was a beautiful ride. McGruddy said having genuine speed in the race brought out the best in Rope Them In. “I think more so the genuine speed, this horse has been looking for a better horses race,” McGruddy said. “The races he’s been in there has been no speed, he’s drawn well or he’s had a lot of weight where you don’t want to get back but there’s been no genuine speed. “So up in grade, although it looked like he was out of his depth, I always knew that this was what he was looking for.” Another son of Playing God later claimed Group 3 glory, with Mojo Rhythm regaining top form and winning his first race since last year’s edition of the $200,000 R J Peters Stakes (1500m) and banking his place for another attempt at the Railway Stakes next week. The gelding hit the bridle hard after the start, with jockey Patrick Carbery tugging against the six-year-old to restrain him to third-last before weaving through congestion nearing the turn. The $26 roughie let down inside the final 200m to claim the front just before the post before holding off the late thrust of Yonga Lass ($6). The Mitchell Pateman-trained Mojo Rhythm will now get a second crack at the Railways Stakes, where he finished fifth last year. Meanwhile, Albany trainer Paul Hunter has saddled up two winners inside a week, both horses from Playing God. Hunter tasted Saturday metropolitan success with Playing Rio ($21), who was far too strong in a one metro win handicap at Ascot on November 9. His stable followed that with talented three-year-old filly Helluva Goddess, who made a slashing debut at Bunbury on Thursday. Helluva Goddess opened a big price in markets and officially jumped a $41 chance for Hunter and jockey Jason Whiting. She held off fellow Albany runner Gaspardo in the concluding stages to win the 1200m maiden by a half-head.