Ipswich Preview – Wednesday 20 November 2024

Date: 19-Nov-2024

**Racing Queensland advises that the Ipswich Turf Club meeting that was transferred to Thursday, November 21, has subsequently been abandoned due to the continued heavy rainfall.**

This will be the first of five midweek metropolitan meetings in a row as we approach Christmas.

Like Saturday, the forecast is not in our favour so we’ll once again be racing on a rain-affected track.

We’ve provided our thoughts on each race below to help you find a winner.

Race 1 - 11:33AM RAY WHITE IPSWICH Maiden Handicap (1666 METRES)

3 Zinotar

Zinotar produced an excellent effort when resuming over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast last start.

The David Vandyke-trained gelding found himself three wide and back but sustained a long run to finish strongly for a close third.

While he’s never raced on a heavy surface, he did trial well on it prior to his first-up run.

He’ll strip fitter second-up and top jockey Jimmy Orman has been booked.

Selections: 3-8-7-2

Race 2 - 12:08PM RIVER 94.9FM Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)

10 French Riviera

French Riviera settled back after drawing wide when resuming last start over 1200m at Doomben.

To the Edmonds & McLean-trained mare, despite getting too far back she worked home strongly in the quickest final 600m of the race to finish 1.7 lengths third.

She’ll strip fitter second-up and for the first time draws well, so hopefully Brandon Lerena can settle closer in the run.

Selections: 10-1-11-5

Race 3 - 12:43PM TAB Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)

1 Silver Hammer

Silver Hammer resumes here and is also having his first start for David Vandyke after previously racing in Victoria with Cliff Brown.

The four-year-old gelding brings solid form north, having finished in the placings in six of his nine starts.

In each of his three first-up races, he finished second so we can expect a bold showing fresh.

Ryan Maloney, who has a 31% winning strike rate with ‘DVD’, can settle in a prominent position from an inside barrier.

Selections: 1-2-10-9

Race 4 - 1:18PM GREAT NORTHERN OPEN Handicap (1200 METRES)

2 Ovidius

Ovidius will appreciate dropping back to the midweeks after racing in stronger Saturday metropolitan races lately.

The Kevin Kemp-trained Snitzel gelding races better the deeper he gets into a preparation and has won two of six starts at the track.

Tahlia Fenlon, who claims 2kg, returns to the saddle and did win on him in April at Eagle Farm.

The young hoop can take advantage of the inside barrier and drive forward and settle handy.

Selections: 2-7-3-5

Race 5 - 1:53PM INGLIS XTRA BONUS SERIES QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1350 METRES)

8 Here’s To Power

Here’s To Power looks close to a win and is well placed to do so against this opposition.

The Gary Doughty-trained filly bounded out of the gates last start at the Gold Coast and nearly unseated her jockey but to her credit she charged home from the back to finish a length second.

In her only previous race at Ipswich, she ran into the talented Pope Cody when finishing 4.8 lengths third over this trip.

Bailey Wheeler, who claims 1.5kg, can give her every chance from the inside barrier with an on-speed run.

Selections: 8-9-1-4

Race 6 - 2:28PM BARRIER REEF POOLS QTIS Three-Year-Old BENCHMARK 65 Handicap (1350 METRES)

2 Walsh Bay

Walsh Bay should be close to peak fitness following three improving runs this preparation.

The Chris & Corey Munce-trained Deep Field filly was forced to settle back last start after drawing wide at the Gold Coast but worked home strongly to finish 1.8 lengths third.

She’s undefeated in two races at Ipswich including her debut race which was in heavy going.

While she’s drawn the outside barrier, that may not be such a bad thing if the inside has chopped up by this race.

Selections: 2-1-4-7

Race 7 - 3:03PM SCHWEPPES BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (800 METRES)

1 Flaming Conquest

Flaming Conquest has been well held in two stronger Saturday races and will appreciate the drop in class.

The David Murphy-trained mare loves racing at Ipswich, boasting an undefeated three-start record including twice over this distance.

Her last win came five starts ago when proving too speedy in an all the way half-length win in this class 800m Ipswich scamper.

She draws well and Jasper Franklin’s 3kg claim comes in very handy.

Selections: 1-5-7-11

Race 8 - 3:38PM GORDON'S GIN BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (1666 METRES)

9 Second Sun

Second Sun has returned this preparation in great order with back-to-back placings.

The Matt Hoysted-trained son of The Autumn Sun was very good last start when fighting on strongly after making a long, wide run to finish a neck second over 1600m at Doomben.

She’ll strip fitter third-up and did win over this course and distance when having her third run back last preparation.

She maps to get an economical run from the inside barrier.

Selections: 9-2-1-8

Race 9 - 4:13PM IMPERIAL RACING BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (1350 METRES)

3 Boom Shot

Boom Shot returned in great order two starts back over 1110m at Doomben where he found the line strongly to finish a neck third.

Very little went right for the Tony Gollan-trained gelding last start over 1200m at Doomben when after being slowly away he was impeded by a riderless horse which forced him wide on the home turn, but to his credit he found the line strongly to finish 1.4 lengths fourth.

He’ll appreciate heading west to Ipswich where he won his only previous start over this distance when he was third-up in his first preparation.

Jimmy Orman has ridden him in six of his eight starts and climbs back in the saddle.

Selections: 3-10-1-7

Race 10 - 4:48PM VALE BILL HALL BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (1100 METRES)

8 Thankyou Henry

Thankyou Henry gave a good sight when resuming over 1110m at Doomben last start but was run down late to finish a head second.

The Tony Georgieff-trained gelding will have benefited from the run and did win easily at the Sunshine Coast when second-up last preparation.

His only previous race over this course and distance saw him bolt in on a heavy deck for a 2.8 length victory.

Ryan Maloney will drive forward and look to go all the way.

Selections: 8-3-4-1

Best Bets

Race 7 – Flaming Conquest (1)