Episode 413: Luke Pepper

Luke Pepper joins the ranks of smaller trainers who only need the right horse to showcase their talents. Until Opal Ridge came along Luke had been achieving consistent results with average horses. Suddenly he’s in the big league with last start stakes winner Opal Ridge, who’ll contest the Gr 3 P.J Bell Stakes on Saturday. We go right back to Luke’s early days in pony club and the wide experience he gained before taking out his own trainer’s licence. Luke begins by talking about his reasons for relocating from Canberra to Scone in the middle of last year. He has high praise for the facilities offered by the Scone Race Club and speaks of the multi million dollar stabling complex already under construction. Luke talks of Opal Ridge’s purchase from the Inglis Classic Sale at a bargain basement price. He talks of the amazing attitude displayed by the young filly as far back as the breaking in stage. Luke talks of her amazing growth spurt and the ease of her first win. He wasn’t quite as buoyant the morning after her Canberra success. He takes us through her eight start racing career right up to the Darby Munro Stakes on Slipper day.  Luke heaps praise on young jockey Tyler Schiller, Opal Ridge’s regular rider. The trainer says his talents were obvious in the Riverina. Luke’s talks of his introduction to thoroughbreds during his time at Meringo Stud on the NSW South Coast. He talks of the foal born at Meringo destined to become a world class sprinter. Luke looks back on his time with Canberra trainer Barbara Joseph who’d already made her mark at Gr 1 level. He remembers with affection Barbara’s top mare Ain’t Seen Nothin’. He looks back on a short but successful stint as an amateur jockey. Luke talks of his time as stable foreman for Nick Olive and his reconnection with the special foal born on the Meringo Stud. He looks back on two memorable overseas trips he had with Takeover Target- one was a career highlight, the other a disaster. Luke talks of his entry into professional training at Thoroughbred Park. He talks of his unforgettable first win, and the horses who have helped to establish him as a well respected trainer. Luke acknowledges the support of partner Tahnee who landed the job she wanted soon after arriving in Scone. The trainer tells the story of the surprise yearling he stumbled upon in a Tasmanian sales catalogue last year. That horse is now in his Scone stable.