Roper hopes to honour Bronte Simpson with country rides at Randwick

2 hours ago 1

By Craig Kerry

December 26, 2025 — 4.03pm

When Anna Roper rode a winning double at Taree on Tuesday, the death of friend and fellow apprentice Bronte Simpson the night before in a car crash just didn’t feel real.

The Wyong-based apprentice hopes to get a chance to honour Simpson aboard Antilocapra in the Highway Handicap at Randwick on Saturday when jockeys will wear black armbands in remembrance of the 24-year-old Simpson.

Ballarat-raised Simpson started her riding career last year on the Central Coast with trainer Sara Ryan and took her first runner, Stylebender, to victory at Muswellbrook in May for another Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan. She moved to Tamworth to link with Jane Clement this season and took her career wins to 14 before tragedy struck.

Driving alone on Monday night, she died when her car left the Castlereagh Highway and hit a tree at Mendooran, north-east of Dubbo.

Roper said she became friends with Simpson while helping her get started at Wyong, and her death had rocked the tight-knit community.

“She was apprenticed to Sara and did a lot of riding for my boss [Damien Lane] and Kristen as well,” Roper said.

Trainer Sara Ryan and jockey Bronte Simpson.

“It’s like a little family at Wyong, really close. It’s all very close-knit because it’s only a small track.

“It’s just horrible. She’s my age … and I sort of didn’t believe it to begin with. It took me until after Taree, on the way home, to come to my senses and think this really happened. It’s awful.

“She was just a really nice girl. It’s very sad.”

Jockeys are set to wear black armbands for the country-only race on Saturday for Simpson, who had all but one of her wins in the bush.

Roper is down to ride Antilocapra for Scone trainer Rod Northam, but the mare needs two scratchings to make the field.

“It’s a very tough horse,” said Roper, who rode Antilocapra to second in a Highway Handicap last start and a victory at Gunnedah two runs back.

“Its will to win is amazing. I had a really tough run on it that day at Gunnedah, but she gives you everything she’s got. She got an awkward draw and needs a run, but she’s definitely up to Highway grade. She proved that last prep.”

Roper, who won on the Gary Portelli-trained Performance at Randwick on Friday, has her best chance on Saturday with another country galloper, the Brett Dodson-prepared Petticoat.

Roper took the mare to victory last start in a Highway Handicap. The four-year-old was a $5 (TAB) chance to successfully make the jump to benchmark 72 grade over 1100m from gate three.

“It’s a big step up into benchmark grade from Highway grade – we’ve seen it a number of times, and a lot of the time they can’t make that move – but I think she’s a class above, the way she’s been winning,” Roper said.

“She’s drawn a nice alley, so I think she’s a good chance, the way she’s been putting them away under big weights.

“She’s very professional, very quiet and laid-back. I thought behind the gates there might have been something wrong [last start], but once she got in the gates, she bounced around and jumped well. She’s very fast and puts herself on the speed, so with that rail out, that should suit.”

Roper also has hopes with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stakes performer Newfoundland ($8.50), which resumes off a 34-week spell and two trials in the ninth race.

“Never underestimate Gai Waterhouse horses first up,” Roper said. “I’ve done that before and I’ll never do it again. They are always fit and well.”