McGruddy happy with Rope Them In’s 2025 The Quokka barrier draw

Barrier five was the magic number for Shaun McGruddy, who got his wish at Tuesday’s Quokka draw, giving Rope Them In a perfect springboard into Saturday’s $5 million sprint at Ascot.

Representing Tabtouch, the Steve Wolfe-trained gelding will look to improve off a lacklustre Roma Cup performance and McGruddy believes the draw gives him every chance to do just that.

“That was good,” McGruddy told Racing WA.

“I wanted anywhere from one to five, so five is great.

“Hopefully I’m no further back than midfield and it will just depend on if he can keep up or not.

“At least we won’t find ourselves all the way back from a wide gate.

“I can make him begin, have him as close as he can be without having to worry about getting anywhere near the fence.

“Because he doesn’t have a lot of gate speed, when you draw wide, you often find yourself closer to the rear than anywhere else.”

Rope Them In was flat when seventh in the Roma Cup (1100m) but had shown great promise winning the Bluff Knoll (1099m) at Albany to kick off his campaign.

He also ran a slashing fourth in the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) last campaign and beat Western Empire in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m), proving he can match motors with quality opposition.

“There were no underlying reasons for his run in the Roma Cup,” McGruddy explained.

“The barrier draw will help because he’s not good enough to give them a head start and reel them in.

“The barrier makes all the difference and the 1200m suits him a bit better as well.

“He worked really well this morning (Tuesday) and Wolfey was happy with the barrier and happy with his work.”

Rope Them In is a $19 outsider in the current market, while Overpass, looking to defend his crown, is the hot favourite at $2.30 for the Quokka after drawing gate 10.