Hoffman eyes next year's winter with Bloomin' Ripper

By Glenn Davis

Tolga trainer Sharlee Hoffman is hopeful promising mare Bloomin’ Ripper could put her back into the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival spotlight next year.

Hoffman admits she’s been a quiet player over the past two winter carnivals in the north since one of her best horses Maquereau took her on a journey to the Townsville Cup in 2023.

Maquereau won nine times for Hoffman including the Townsville Amateur Cup in 2021 and was a fancied runner when a close up sixth in the Townsville Cup in 2022, which was won by Rockhampton’s Namazu.

“I’ve had a quiet two years as I’ve had a few other things to focus on,” Hoffman said.

“A couple of years ago I had about 25 horses in work and I was really enjoying it but it was very time consuming.

“I decided to cut back on my stable to around 11 in work these days and it’s allowed me more time to focus on my family.”

Bloomin’ Ripper will be chasing a hat-trick of wins in Cairns on Tuesday.

The six-year-old daughter of Spirit Of Boom lines up in the Open Handicap over 950 metres and Hoffman is confident she’ll be close to the money again.

“She doesn’t seem to get 1200 metres so between 900 and 1100 metres is ideal for her,” Hoffman said.

“She’s a lovely mare to deal with around the stables and she won well when I took her to Townsville for the first time last start.”

Bloomin' Ripper - a Tyler Leslight mount – won a 1000 metre Benchmark race at Cluden Park by almost two-and-a-half lengths on September 9 following a narrow win over 950 metres at Cairns on August 16.

“Bloomin’ is blossoming,” declared Hoffman.

“I think she’ll be hard to beat again and hopefully she can make it to the winter here next year.

“If she keeps progressing like she has I’m sure she’ll be up to the winter races.”

Hoffman was given Bloomin’ Ripper to train after having one start for Sunshine Coast trainer Gary Duncan in May of 2023.

“I got her after her owner sent me Caressing Rupert to train,” Hoffman said.

“Duncan also trained Caressing Rupert and I won a few races with her, so her owners later sent Bloomin’ Ripper up to me to train as well.”