Racing: Ropiha has last laugh with a Comand Performance

Ben Ropiha hated the fact he had to ride jumpers to get back into race riding.

You wouldn't guess it now.

At Ellerslie yesterday, the 20-year-old experienced his biggest disappointment in racing when he missed the winning ride on one of the horses he is looking after, Midnight Opal, in the $40,000 Northern Hurdles.

Remarkably, the smile never left his face - it simply got wider when two hours later he scored one of the most emphatic wins imaginable on Comand Performance in the $50,000 Northern Steeplechase.

If you don't yet think Comand Performance is the country's best steeplechaser, it won't be long before you are convinced.

That he could so easily dispose of some of the best 'chasers yesterday was made so much more remarkable by the fact that two days earlier he had not run in a steeplechase.

As impressive as Comand Performance was in breaking his maiden on Saturday, he was so much more stylish yesterday.

He simply bolted in.

It was a clever ride by Ropiha. He knew the pacemaking Bart would be vulnerable at the distance in the very heavy track and went up to eyeball him going through the centre of the course with a lap to travel.

Comand Performance was never going to be beaten after that.

Instead of getting tired late in the race, the giant chestnut was still winding up.

It was a chuffed Ropiha who returned to the weigh-in.

"He landed over the second-last and took off. I said: 'Wow, here we go.' He was bolting."

On heavy conditions, which he clearly loves, it's difficult to imagine how you would beat Comand Performance in the Great Northern Steeplechase in September.

If it is not already the best training performance by John Wheeler you've seen in a long time, it certainly will be if Comand Performance wins the Great Northern.

A big part of Ropiha's talent is his attitude. He admits he has had some real flak in the last 12 months, but it has made him not only stronger, but better.

You had to admire his statement at the official presentation when he said: "I'd like to thank this horse's owners. I rode some shockers on him last winter and they've kept me on."

Real professionals listen to critiques of their riding. Ropiha has had it from the best quarters.

"When I went to Cambridge for 14 months Lordy [former top jumps rider Graeme Lord] gave me a lot of advice on how to ride jumpers.

"He still calls me a lot."

Ropiha said Lord called him after he crashed on Power Ball in the home straight in the hurdle race on Saturday. "He told me what I did wrong and he was right."

Ropiha cannot say enough about how much Wheeler has helped him and also Brett Scott, foreman and No 1 jumps rider for Wheeler's Melbourne stable.

"Scotty and the others really give it to me when it's appropriate, but they pat me on the back too."

Ropiha had not previously been over the Ellerslie water jump. He called Lord, who advised him to make sure Comand Performance, also seeing the fence for the first time, did not stand off and jump it from too far away.

"I didn't know it didn't have sighter boards," said Ropiha.

Difficult to make excuses for the others in the race, although there was a slight suggestion few were suited on the day - perhaps making the winner's performance look even better.

The Storytella, expected to be the main danger, was beaten in the back straight and was 41.8 lengths away in fourth place.

Equal favourite Bart weakened out. He had an absolute "life" when he slipped after landing over the fence at the bottom of the Hill with more than a round to travel.

"That was only one of five or six times he slipped around the course," said rider Kara Waters. "It affected his confidence."