Ipswich Preview – Wednesday 1 May 2024

Date: 30-Apr-2024

Midweek metropolitan racing returns to Ipswich this Wednesday where eight races will be run and won.

The rail is out 9.5m while the track at time of writing on Monday was rated a Soft 6 but with mostly fine weather forecast, we should see an improvement in the surface come race 1.

We found five winners last Wednesday so hopefully our selections this week can do just as well.

Race 1 - 12:28PM BARRIER REEF POOLS QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (800 METRES)

2 Spicy Duck

Spicy Duck returns to racing from a 12-week spell after an impressive win over this course and distance on debut.

The Paul Butterworth-trained son of Headwater showed good speed to cross and lead from an outside gate before dashing clear to win by 2.5 lengths.

The margin could have been far greater given he was shut off with 100m to go.

In a show of stable confidence, Jimmy Orman has been booked to pilot from the nice draw.

Selections: 2-6-1-3

Race 2 - 1:03PM IMPERIAL RACING Colts, Geldings and Entires Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)

10 Taltarni Fields

Taltarni Fields looks close to a win after finishing close placings in both his starts this preparation.

The Kelly Schweida-trained three-year-old gelding worked hard to find the front from a wide gate first-up over 1200m at Doomben but he still fought on to finish just under a length second.

Last start he led over 1110m at Doomben and gave a good kick in the straight but was picked off late to finish a neck third.

He’ll strip fitter third-up and looks the likely leader so if Cejay Graham with her 1.5kg claim can dictate the speed, he may prove hard to run down.

Selections: 10-8-1-7

Race 3 - 1:38PM SEVEN Fillies and Mares Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)

10 Winning Edition

Winning Edition returns to the races for the first time since finding the line for a length third over 1200m at Doomben in December.

The Rob Heathcote-trained daughter of Winning Rupert warmed up for this first-up assignment with a nice piece of work where she led a 840m Doomben trial before dashing clear under a hold to win by 3.5 lengths.

There doesn’t look to be too many go forward horses in the race so that should see Bailey Wheeler, who claims 2kg, push forward from barrier 3 and take up a prominent position.

Selections: 10-9-6-3

Race 4 - 2:13PM GREAT NORTHERN BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (800 METRES)

Flaming Conquest

Flaming Conquest looks to have found a suitable race to kick off her preparation.

The David Murphy-trained four-year-old mare was last seen finishing 3.43 lengths behind All That Pizzazz in the Listed Bribie Handicap in December.

She’ll appreciate the drop in class from what she has been competing in and did win first-up over this course and distance when resuming last preparation in a stronger race than this.

Yvette Lewis, who claims 3kg, can use the inside barrier to advantage to lead and give them something to catch.

Selections: 1-8-4-7

Race 5 - 2:53PM SCHWEPPES BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (1700 METRES)

7 Houston Rocket

Houston Rocket has been the recipient of bad gates throughout this preparation but finally draws another inside barrier.

The Chris Munce-trained son of Sebring was forced to settle last after drawing the an outside gate last start at the Sunshine Coast before charging to the line to finish just under a length behind Sian Star who he meets better at weights.

The last time he drew well was three races ago and he won when starting from barrier 3 over 1350m here.

He’s rock hard fit and the strong tempo should suit with Justin Huxtable in the saddle.

Selections: 7-5-2-4

Race 6 - 3:30PM GORDON'S GIN Class 1 Plate (1700 METRES)

3 New Level

New Level has settled in well at Kelly Schweida’s stable after previously racing with the McEvoys in Melbourne.

The four-year-old gelding performed a lot better than expected first-up over 1200m at Doomben when despite racing wide throughout, he found the line well for a 1.6 length fourth.

He then hit the line hard over 1350m here last start to finish a length second to the above average Aerial Dancer.

The rise in distance looks ideal with increased fitness third-up.

Last season’s leading Ipswich jockey Jimmy Orman takes the ride.

Selections: 3-4-1-11

Race 7 - 4:08PM TAB Class 3 Plate (1200 METRES)

2 Pizarro

Pizarro looks extremely well placed under the set weight conditions of the race.

The son of All Too Hard resumes here but is also having his first start for Tony Gollan after previously racing with John O’Shea in Sydney.

He will find this Class 3 Plate a lot easier than the Open Class and Black-Type races he has been racing in.

While he hasn’t won first-up before, he has finished in the placings in four of five resumptions.

He looked slick winning a recent trial under a hold so a bold showing can be expected with Jimmy Orman doing the piloting.

Selections: 2-3-6-8

Race 8 - 4:43PM FAMILY DAY RACES THIS MONDAY BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (1350 METRES)

10 Disney Castle

Disney Castle had her first race in Queensland over this course and distance last start and her Sydney proved too strong for the locals.

As is often the case with Chris Waller-trained horses, the three-year-old filly was brought north for a confidence-boosting win after finishing in the placings in stronger races at Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm.

She didn’t disappoint, settling midfield before coming four-wide on the turn and running her rivals down for a half-length victory.

Mark Du Plessis retains the ride and will look to ride his mount in the same fashion given the likely strong speed.

Selections: 10-3-9-2

Best Bets

Race 2 – Taltarni Fields (10)

Race 4 – Flaming Conquest (1)

Race 7 – Pizarro (2)

By Craig Sheppard

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