Ipswich Preview – Wednesday 24 April 2024

Date: 23-Apr-2024

Following a week’s break, racing returns to Ipswich this Wednesday for a nine-race metropolitan program.

While the weather forecast suggests a great day for racing on Wednesday, recent rain will ensure that there is some give in the surface. The rail is out 6m the entire course.

Our top selections for each race can be found below.

Race 1 - 12:00PM TAB IPSWICH CUP TICKETS ON SALE QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1100 METRES)

1 Balastier

Balastier returns to the races for the first time since finishing a distant fifth to Spywire in the Gold Nugget at the Gold Coast on The Wave Day in January.

The Tony Gollan-trained Brazen Beau colt was too keen on that occasion, racing three deep outside the lead so understandably weakened badly in the straight.

He was sent to the paddock and looks to have matured during the break given his excellent Deagon trial on a soft track where he went straight to the front and cruised around for an easy win.

He is drawn wide but has the necessary early speed to cross for Ryan Maloney and either lead or find a prominent position.

Selections: 1-12-2-9

Race 2 - 12:33PM RAY WHITE IPSWICH QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1100 METRES)

12 Walsh Bay

Walsh Bay is on debut for Eagle Farm trainer Chris Munce.

The daughter of Deep Field has had two trials leading into this first-up assignment with the most recent producing a nice piece of work.

She settled third in the field of three in the 1000m Doomben trial before taking an inside run at the top of the straight and dashing clear under a hold to win by three lengths.

Justin Huxtable has been aboard in both trials and can find a nice position in running from barrier 6.

Selections: 12-1-8-9

Race 3 - 1:08PM SEVEN NEWS QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1690 METRES)

2 Rashford

Rashford looks close to a win given he has finished in the placings at all three starts this preparation.

The Chris Munce-trained gelding was unlucky not to win when finishing a head second after being held-up at Doomben.

He then tried hard second-up but was no match for Kalends when second again at Doomben before fighting strongly in heavy conditions over a mile at the Sunshine Coast for a neck third.

He will be at peak fitness now and should get the run of the race for Kyle Wilson-Taylor.

Selections: 2-4-1-3

Race 4 - 1:43PM GREAT NORTHERN BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (2180 METRES)

5 Intentional Lass

This is a typically tough stayers' race so I am going with Intentional Lass who may have more upside than most of her rivals.

The Matt Dunn-trained four-year-old mare has had just 13 starts and has two wins and five placings to show from them.

Last start she fought strongly to the line over 1735m at Grafton to win by a head.

This is the first time she has taken on this distance but given the way she worked to the line last start, she should handle it and she is rock hard fit.

Selections: 5-3-4-7

Race 5 - 2:18PM GORDON'S GIN Class 4 Handicap (1690 METRES)

1 Rising Pacific

Rising Pacific rises in weight but will appreciate the big drop in class from a Saturday Class 6 Handicap to a midweek Class 4 Handicap.

The Tony Gollan-trained son of Preferment found the line well last start when finishing third by three lengths to the inform Iverson over 1600m (about 5249.34 ft) at Eagle Farm.

He will strip fitter third-up and did win his third run back over this course and distance last preparation.

Last season’s leading Ipswich jockey Jimmy Orman should be able to settle in a prominent position given the limited speed in the race.

Selections: 1-6-2-3

Race 6 - 2:53PM SCHWEPPES Maiden Plate (1690 METRES)

13 Miracle Seven

Miracle Seven finds a very winnable race to break her maiden status.

The Chris Waller-trained three-year-old filly settled back over 1650m at Doomben on debut before working home well for a 7.1 length seventh.

While well beaten, that was a stronger maiden than what most of these have been racing against.

She will strip fitter second-up and gets blinkers for the first time which may see Mark Du Plessis settle closer from barrier 2.

Selections: 13-11-8-10

Race 7 - 3:28PM TAB Maiden Handicap (1350 METRES)

4 Jonny Da Wolf

Jonny Da Wolf is on the quick back-up after a good effort at Doomben over 1350m last start.

The Chris Waller-trained son of Tivaci fought bravely but was no match for Velozes and finished 1.7 lengths third.

He ran well the start prior when second over this course and distance so he looks close to a win and will be ready for a peak performance now.

Jimmy Orman can settle in a prominent position in a race that doesn’t look to have a great deal of speed.

Selections: 4-1-5-2

Race 8 - 4:03PM IMPERIAL RACING Class 1 Plate (1350 METRES)

7 Exceed Speed

Exceed Speed broke through for his maiden win last start over this course and distance.

Under Michael Rodd, he settled handy before sprinting strongly to hold off Flywheel who subsequently placed fifth in the Daybreak Lover on Saturday.

The writing was on the wall for the Tony Gollan-trained son of Exceed and Excel ahead of that win after an unlucky first-up third at Doomben and then going down by a neck at his second-up race.

From the inside gate, he should enjoy the run of the race and prove hard to beat.

Selections: 7-14-3-8

Race 9 - 4:38PM SEVEN FAMILY RACEDAY 6 MAY BENCHMARK 65 Handicap (1200 METRES)

12 Kitri

Kitri enters this race at peak fitness and looks close to a breakthrough win this preparation.

The Michael Nolan-trained daughter of Invader chased home tearaway leader Typhoon Taavi two starts back over this distance at Doomben when finishing third. That horse has since won again.

Last start she stepped up to 1350m in an Open Three-Year-Old race at Doomben and went too hard but did well to fight on for a 2.1 length fifth.

There looks to be good speed in front which should see Mark Du Plessis slide across and settle in a handy position.

Selections: 12-11-10-4

Best Bets

Race 3 – Rashford (2)

Race 5 – Rising Pacific (1)

Race 8 – Exceed Speed (7)

By Craig Sheppard

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