TROPICS rolled back the years when winning at Wolverhampton tonight, his first win in twelve races and two and a half years.
The nine-year-old chestnut, went off the 11/4 favourite under stable apprentice, Jack Duern, in a 0-95 handicap over 6f, a trip over which Tropics had previously won seven times. Drawn well in four, the son of Speightstown tracked the leaders and racing keenly, he led a furlong out and ran on to win by one and a half lengths.
While Tropics may not be same horse who was twice runner-up in Europe’s richest sprint, the Darley July Cup in 2014 and 2015, he still retains plenty of ability. Admittedly, he was winning today off 88, 29lbs below his best ever rating but he still shows plenty of enthusiasm both on the gallops and on the racecourse.
His history may be well documented but it is worth repeating. A $280,000 foal, he was resold as a yearling for $700,000, didn’t race at two or three and was purchased at Newmarket’s Horses In Training sale in 2011 for just three and a half thousand guineas.
Patience was the watchword and Tropics did not make his debut until September 2012. A winner over 7f at the third attempt, the horse went from strength to strength and went on to win at Windsor three times, York, Newmarket (twice) and Ascot in the Group Three Bengough Stakes.
Today’s win was his first success on the Tapeta and his first on the all-weather since he broke his duck at Kempton in October 2012. His win race record is remarkable with a strike rate of exactly 25%, his Dunstall Park success making it nine wins from 36 races while his earnings are just under £1/2 million.
Congratulations to Jack Duern who joins an illustrious band of jockeys who have won on Tropics, including Robert Winston, Adam Kirby and former champion, Jim Crowley.