3 minute read

South Australian apprentice Jacob Opperman will chase his first Melbourne win since relocating to Flemington on loan to Mathew Ellerton when he teams up with Royal Mile at Sandown on Saturday.

Jacob Opperman narrowly missed causing a massive upset at Flemington last weekend when he finished second with Country's Light at $101 and will be back in the saddle aboard the horse that provided him with the biggest win in his career in last year's Group 3 Chairman's Stakes at Morphettville.

Royal Mile, who finished fourth behind Belle Plaisir in the Group 3 R A Lee Stakes at Morphettville last time out, will have to overcome a tricky barrier drawn in gate 13 and is marked a $12 chance with tab.com.au behind the Robert Hickmott-trained Degraves who is the $4.80 favourite.

Opperman heads to familiar territory in Victoria's south west at Casterton on Sunday with a busy book of eight rides including the Sue Murphy-trained Farooq in the Apsley Cup.

Morphettville trainer Travis Doudle is also heading over the border with Not Usual Glorious in the $50,000 feature.