3 minute read

Training partnerships are the way of the future to some but young trainer William Kropp is in no rush.

Kropp, 23, is the son of popular Downs trainer Matt Kropp, and has a small team of six horses in work at Toowoomba.

He works out of the same barn and even rides track work up to six times a day for his father as well as some of his own horses.

"Partnerships are the way of the future but I'm not too worried about doing it," Kropp said.

"Everything is working fine at the moment and Dad and I virtually work out of the same stables and we share some owners and have some owners of our own."

Kropp, 22, has been training since he was licensed as an 18-year-old.

Kropp junior heads to Dalby on Friday with one starter, I Promise You, who is topweight in the Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1400 metres.

He has booked promising apprentice Rob Thorburn, whose three kilos claim will help offset I Promise You's massive weight of 61.5kgs.

"Rob rode one for Dad at Bell recently and he rode it well," Kropp said.

"He looks to be a good young rider coming through."

I Promise You is coming off a last start fourth when she led and faded to go down by just over three lengths to the Tony Gollan-trained Brentwood in a 1200-metre Benchmark 72 race at Doomben on January 10.

"She's dropping in class and has good draw which is vital so hopefully she can be competitive," Kropp said.

I Promise You will be out to end a 12-month losing streak with the six-year-old mare recording her last win in a Benchmark race at Toowoomba in February last year.

I Promise You is owned by Roland and Sharon Hovey who are passionate and long-time clients of the Kropp clan.

The Hovey's also own the Matt Kropp-trained Rowdash who tackles the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1000 metres.

Kropp senior has seven runners entered at Dalby but none will clash with I Promise You.