Kropp welcomes return to racing at Toowoomba

 By Glenn Davis

Trainer Matt Kropp has his fingers crossed for some long-awaited hometown success when racing returns for a rare Sunday meeting at Toowoomba this weekend.

The Clifford Park track has been closed for the past six weeks while it underwent refurbishments and Kropp, along with other locals, is eagerly awaiting racing’s return.

“It will be good to be racing at home for a change as we won’t have to travel,” Kropp said.

“We’ve all had to do a lot of travelling the past six weeks while the track underwent a refurbishment.”

Kropp has named Groovin’ The Moo in the Benchmark 70 Handicap as the pick of his runners and also expects another strong showing from last start winner Connewarre in the Benchmark 62 Handicap.

Both will be ridden by apprentice Olivia Kendal.

Groovin’ The Moo has been with Kropp for 11 of his 23 starts after leaving the stables of Beaudesert trainer Beau Gorman.

The seven-year-old has won three times and placed on another three occasions for Kropp and is coming off two seconds at Inverell and Doomben.

The son of Whittington was taken to Inverell in NSW following two runs at Doomben and finished a game second in the 1050 metre Inverell Shorts on New Year’s Day.

He was then edged out by the Ethan Ensby-trained Maximum Vortex over 1110 metres at Doomben on February 1.

“He’s done a good job for us after I got him off Beau Gorman who went to work for the Mishani crew,” Kropp said.

“He’s been very consistent and hasn’t had a lot of luck in a few of his races.

“I thought he was home last start at Doomben but he just got run down when the winner came with a wet sail.

“He’s getting on now being seven but he’s racing in career best form and he’s got plenty of weight, that’s why I’m claiming.”

Kropp is a great believer in travelling horses and hopes his methods will be vindicated with Connewarre.

Connewarre is a last-start winner for Kendal in a 1400 metre Class 3 Plate at Rockhampton on January 23.

“It depends on the weather if Connewarre starts as he doesn’t like the wet and there’s some rain forecast,” Kropp said.

“I had to pull him out from Ipswich last week when it rained heavily on the day.”