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Scone’s latest racing resident Luke Pepper is typically outnumbered by the Kris Lees regional juggernaut at Tuesday’s capacity TAB meeting, but the former ACT and Moruya trainer has the form and circumstances to make an impact at appealing odds.

Luke’s burgeoning combination with Anna Roper, 19, a former NSW horse eventing champion, apprenticed to Tracey Bartley at Wyong, has resulted in six winners in a short space.

Deepstar (Anna Roper) wins at Inverell. Image by Bradley Photographers

At Scone they combine with speedster Deepstar ($3.70 favourite on TAB) a spectacular six-length winner at Inverell and Leisa Louise ($5), a recent four lengths winner at Quirindi on the heavy.

Deepstar’s 62kg impost in the Kia Ora F&M’s BM 58 (1300m) vitally has been reduced by Anna’s 2.5kg claim.

And similarly, off the 58kg for Leisa Louise in an Arrowfield 1600m BM 74, 1600m.

“Anna’s a cracking young apprentice, a natural, we’ve had ongoing success since we linked in her first season, horses travel for her, happy she’s on mine anytime,” enthused Luke, as he assessed Deepstar since relocating this season from the ACT.

“My concern with this mare is out to 1300m on the big track, but she led and they only got her late when the wheels were spinning on a heavy at Quirindi (1200m).

“The winner just got through it a bit stronger. But she spaced them at Inverell, super win.

“That was easier grade on firm, so obviously she’ll appreciate better ground. It’s a decent form race but she’s drawn with the speed to be on-pace.” Deepstar has won solid form races at Goulburn and Nowra.

Widely travelled four-race winner Leisa Louise started her career winning a maiden for Kris Lees and was then trained up north by the Edmonds and Currie stables.

“We’ve only had her the two starts, but she was convincing enough winning at Quirindi on the heavy and she’s trained on. She’s been competitive in some solid form races up north and drawn, if she gets similar conditions.”

Lees numbers up with his star apprentices Dylan Gibbons and Bailey “Wheels” Wheeler throughout the capacity eight-race meeting.

The big watch is his Irish import, stayer Sacramento Joe ($9.50) resuming off two trials in the seventh event as he been placed three times first-up.

Lees initially had an opinion of the dual race winner off first prep provincial form and one run in town. His debut maiden Athena Nyx ($7.50) is a recent trial winner to be ridden by Gibbons in the opening maiden who also rides strong Scone placegetter Point Break ($6) in the fourth race maiden.

At present Scone is a Soft 6 in fine weather.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Scone here