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Toowoomba trainer Matt Kropp is hoping an old theory travelling horses to improve them will help boost his prospects of a one-two finish at Ipswich on Thursday.
Kropp has booked Jason Taylor to partner last start Toowoomba winner Connewarre in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1200 metres while apprentice Emily Lang will partner stable mate Lets Dance Jandy.
Lets Dance Jandy is coming off a last start win in an 1100 metre Class 1 Handicap at Rockhampton on February 16 while Connewarre was an impressive winner against his own age at Toowoomba on February 10.
"Connewarre's win in Toowoomba was very good but he got a lovely run that night," Kropp said.
"He's drawn the rails at Ipswich so you'd think he should get another good run.
"It depends on the speed in the race how Lets Dance Jandy goes in this grade.
"It's a big step up from a Class 1 for him but he did well to win in Rocky when I took him away last start."
Kropp is a great believer travelling horses to improve them and is reluctant to separate his pair.
"I wouldn't like to split them as they're both got chances," Kropp said.
"It seems a lot of horses do better after they've come back from a long trip away.
"But, it can work both ways but I do believe trips away improves a horse.
"It's a decent jump in class for Lets Dance Jandy to a three-year-old race against QTIS horses."
Lets Dance Jandy was bred by owner Mark Moore who races the son of Jukebox in a syndicate of 10.
"Mark has raced a number of horses with me and we've had a lot of success with the family of Lets Dance Jandy," Kropp said.
Kropp also will saddle up Aliraaj in the Benchmark 62 Handicap and is hopeful the 2200 metre trip will be in his favour.
Aliraaj has only had three starts back this campaign and is coming off a last start second to the Harry Richardson-trained Van Gogh in an 1890 metre Benchmark race at Toowoomba on February 10.
"He's going well and he's had three runs back and his last win at Toowoomba was very good," Kropp said.
"I've been waiting for him to get out to a trip like this race and he's a good each-way chance."
