Ipswich Preview – Saturday 11 May 2024

Date: 10-May-2024

Following Monday’s Labour Day meeting, racing returns to Ipswich this Saturday for an eight-race program.

The rail is in the 2m position while the track should be rated in the Soft range with the chance of a shower or two.

Our top selections for each race can be found below.

Race 1 - 12:14PM TAB IPSWICH CUP 22 JUNE Maiden Plate (2150 METRES)

2 The Irish

The Irish returned in good order over 1600m at the Sunshine Coast last start.

The Lee Freedman-trained gelding worked to the line well to finish second by 2.8 lengths with the third since winning its next start.

He’ll strip fitter second-up and the rise to 2150m looks ideal given he placed twice over similar distances in his first preparation.

The wide gate isn’t ideal but there doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed and his opponents are limited.

Selections: 2-3-5-7

Race 2 - 12:49PM SEVEN NEWS QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (800 METRES)

8 Croatian Queen

Croatian Queen makes her debut here following three trials across two preparations.

In the Tony and Maddy Sears-trained filly’s most recent trial, she showed good speed out of the gates before racing three wide on speed before working to the line quite well for second.

Blinkers go on for the first time, so I’d expect Nozi Tomizawa to use her natural speed to be aggressive early and drive forward and try to lead over this scamper trip.

Selections: 8-13-11-7

Race 3 - 1:24PM IMPERIAL RACING BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1666 METRES)

1 Tavis Town

Tavis Town was a such flat when finishing five lengths ninth over 1300m at Toowoomba first-up.

The Paul Duncan-trained seven-year-old gelding will have taken benefit from that run and will appreciate the rise in trip.

He’s won two and finished runner-up three times from five second-up races.

Last preparation he won over this course and distance when having his second run back.

Casey Waddell’s 2kg claim and the blinkers going on are big positives.

Selections: 1-5-2-7

Race 4 - 1:59PM ALLNEX RESINS SOCIAL CLUB OPEN Handicap (1350 METRES)

5 Winston Smurfhill

Winston Smurfhill was unlucky not to finish a closer than the 1.5 length margin at Eagle Farm last start.

The Nat McCall-trained gelding was held up in the straight when full of running and by the time he got to the outside, his rivals got the jump on him but to his credit he ran on well once clear.

He’s been racing in stronger races than this and did win four starts ago over 1400m at Eagle Farm.

I’ve left out Ned’s Gully who would be hard to beat as I believe he’ll race at the Sunshine Coast.

Selections: 5-7-9-6

Race 5 - 2:34PM DEVELOP WITH 2DU CIVIL ENGINEERING Maiden Handicap (1350 METRES)

9 Pretty Little Liar

I really hope Jack Bruce brings this filly to this meeting and not Sunday’s Sunshine Coast Poly meeting as she looks a standout.

The daughter of Sioux Nation resumed over 1200m on a heavy Sunshine Coast track and despite racing three wide the trip, she finished off well for a 2.3 length second with third a further 1.8 lengths away.

She’ll have come on since that run and the rise to 1350m second-up looks ideal.

Jag Guthmann-Chester can settle in a prominent position.

Selections: 9-10-3-12

Race 6 - 3:09PM TRIDAN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Colts, Geldings & Entires BENCHMARK 62 Handicap (1100 METRES)

4 Spicy Legend

Spicy Legend returns here as a gelding.

The procedure has had a positive effect on the Peter Robl-trained son of Justify based on two recent trials, the most recent seeing him race on speed and easily put his rivals away.

He raced well last preparation in town, chasing home Weigall Tiger twice but before that he won his maiden in his only previous start at Ipswich.

He’s drawn well for Jag Guthmann-Chester so should enjoy a nice run on speed.

Selections: 4-3-2-5

Race 7 - 3:49PM EDDIES COMMUNITY EVENT Fillies & Mares BENCHMARK 62 Handicap (1100 METRES)

3 Tycoon Mistress

Tycoon Mistress resumes here on the back of an excellent trial win.

The Annabel Neasham-trained daughter of Capitalist jumped straight to the front in the 1050m Deagon trial before cruising to a three-length win.

She’s only been out of the top three once in six starts and did impressively win at Eagle Farm two starts ago.

Jag Guthmann-Chester will use her speed to advantage and settle on speed.

Selections: 3-12-11-4

Race 8 - 4:25PM INFIELD FESTIVAL ON SALE Class 4 Handicap (1350 METRES)

2 Ready For Anything

Ready For Anything should be ready to produce a peak performance third-up after two solid runs this preparation.

In his past few starts he’s got further back than would have been liked after drawing unfavourably but he starts from a better gate here so Chip Collis, who claims 1.5kg, may settle closer.

The Matt Dunn-trained son of Better Than Ready has won third-up previously when contesting a race over this distance at Doomben.

He enjoys racing at Ipswich, having won twice and placed second in the other from three starts.

Selections: 2-5-3-6

Best Bets

Race 3 – Tavis Town (1)

Race 5 – Pretty Little Liar (9)

Race 7 – Tycoon Mistress (3)

By Craig Sheppard

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