"There doesn't look to be an abundance of speed but in the 1650m races, with a short run to the first turn, they usually go along early to get a position."
The pair warmed up for today's feature with slashing runs behind Lockmar in the Ted Ryder Cup (1600m) at Wagga on December 23, with Ilringya steaming home to be beaten a long neck into second and Quichang boxing on for third a further 1 lengths away.
"They've both come on since Wagga," Pepper said. "Both are flying. In their work you couldn't split them."
Ilringya, a 7-year-old mare and winner of six from 49 starts, is the defending Narooma Cup winner, going on next start to also win the Moruya Cup, a programme she will again follow this year.
"Apart from Rosehill [two starts back], when she got well back in a big field in a slowly run race, her runs have been super," Pepper said.
"She spelled really well and came back a lot bigger than previously. She's not usually a gross horse but it's taken more time to get her fully fit.
"She's a lot stronger too. This is the best I've had her.
"Quichang is just a tough little horse that gives 110 per cent every times he goes around, no matter what sort of race. I've got my fingers crossed for both of them."
Ilringya will back up in the A$22,000 Moruya Cup (1930m) on January 23, while Quichang will head to the Sapphire Coast on February 5 for the A$27,000 Bega Cup (1600m), a race he won in 2011 at his first start for Pepper.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Hugh Bowman extended his lead in the Sydney jockeys' premiership as his rich vein of form continued with a winning treble at Warwick Farm.
Victory aboard Golden Slipper prospect Raceway in the opening event was followed by successes on Dystopia and Rolling Pin which took Bowman five wins clear at the head of the Sydney standings.
His treble on Saturday added to a double at Warwick Farm on Monday.
"I'm just doing what I do. Obviously, winners create momentum and there's no doubt you get confidence from that," Bowman said.
"But I've been around long enough to know you're only a week away from a run of outs, so you've just got to keep chipping away."
Bowman couldn't have been more impressed with the debut of Raceway, who stamped himself as a Golden Slipper prospect with a commanding four-length win in the Warwick Farm 100 Club Plate (1000m). "He's the nicest 2-year-old I've ridden for some time.
"I had nothing to do with the horse before today but with a bit of luck I might have a bit more to do with him."
Bowman got his tactics spot-on aboard Dystopia in the Schweppes Handicap (1300m), tagging odds-on favourite Tiger Tees early before starting to bridge the gap to free-running leader O'Crikey from the 600m mark.
Dystopia, who formed part of a winning treble for trainer Chris Waller, defeated Tiger Tees by 2 lengths. Two races later Bowman struck again on Rolling Pin in the James Boag Handicap (1600m).
- AAP
