While some jockeys are taking a break over Christmas, Central Coast apprentice Anna Roper is keen to work even harder.
She’s had enough time off.
Anna Roper winning on Much Much Better at Randwick last year.Credit: Getty Images
The 22-year-old will have her first Saturday city rides in 13 months at Randwick after a frustrating run with injuries.
The three-kilogram claimer has five rides, including Bjorn Baker’s Infatuation (race four, $4.40), the Paul Perry-trained Bakerloo (race seven, $21) and Sara Ryan-prepared Much Much Better (race nine, $23).
“Bjorn’s is a very good chance and Bakerloo goes OK,” Roper said. “And I think Much Much Better will go better than what they are expecting. It’s about $25, but I don’t think he should be. I rode my first Saturday winner on him.”
That success in October last year remains Roper’s only Saturday city win. She also highlighted her potential with a midweek metropolitan treble at Gosford in April this year, but she was struck down soon after with a quadriceps tear. Surgery was needed after a failed comeback, sidelining her for another three months.
Less than two weeks into a return last month, she was kicked in the ankle by a horse at trackwork, putting her out for a fortnight.
“Every time I’ve started going well, I get injured – it’s ridiculous,” she said. “But every time I’ve come back from injury, it’s been a lot easier than this time. It’s been a bit of a tough run.”
The luckless streak marred plans for a shot at the city apprentice title this season, but she was not waiting around for the next one.
