Ipswich Preview – Wednesday 4 December 2024 New

Date: 03-Dec-2024

Eight races are scheduled to be run and won at Ipswich on Wednesday.

While the track is rated a Soft 6 at time of writing, the forecast suggests warm and mostly cloudy days so we should be racing on an improving Soft surface.

Our top selections in each race can be found below.

Race 1 - 1:03PM TAB QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1690 METRES)

2 Ionaceltic

Ionaceltic is a lightly raced gelding who is having his first start in Queensland after three races in Sydney.

As we see often with Chris Waller runners that come north, they enjoy the easier racing and that should be the case with this son of Churchill who was last seen finishing 6.9 lengths sixth over 1590m in a metropolitan maiden at Canterbury.

In his first race he gave a good account of himself on a heavy Scone deck to finish 1.9 lengths third.

Bailey Wheeler can give him every chance from the good draw.

Selections: 2-4-7-6

Race 2 - 1:38PM SEVEN NEWS Maiden Handicap (1100 METRES)

9 Some Style

Some Style makes her debut here following six trials across three preparations starting a year ago.

The Tony Gollan-trained Exceed And Excel filly impressed in her most recent trial where she cruised home for a length win over 1000m on a Soft 7 at Doomben.

Angela Jones was aboard in that trial win and should be able to settle in a prominent position from the low draw.

Selections: 9-11-3-8

Race 3 - 2:13PM RED BULL AUSTRALIA Class 1 Plate (1350 METRES)

8 Freeman

Freeman appreciated the drop back to this course and distance last start after several struggling over further.

The Chris & Corey Munce-trained mare settled back before producing the quickest final 600m of the race to miss the win in a photo finish.

That was Martin Harley’s first ride on the daughter of Lean Mean Machine and he sticks which is a positive.

There looks good speed in the race which will suit.

Selections: 8-9-3-11

Race 4 - 2:48PM BARRIER REEF POOLS Class 1 Plate (1350 METRES)

11 Star Act

Star Act recently joined the Liam Birchley stable after previously racing in Sydney with Bjorn Baker.

The daughter of Snitzel has been competing in Benchmark 72 Handicaps with merit, most notably finishing third by 3.1 lengths to Darling Downs two starts ago.

She’ll appreciate the drop in class at set weights and loves the sting out of the ground having won her maiden on a heavy surface.

She’ll carry just 56kg with Jace McMurray’s claim.

Selections: 11-2-5-1

Race 5 - 3:23PM GORDON'S GIN BENCHMARK 65 Handicap (800 METRES)

8 Diamond Lass

Diamond resumes here and is having her first start for Darren Bell.

The Better Than Ready mare does her best racing when fresh having won twice and finished second twice from five first-up races.

She loves the 800m scamper as clearly demonstrated last start when romping in by 5.3 lengths at Warwick.

Jace McMurray, who claims 2kg, can use her speed to lead from the inside barrier.

Selections: 8-7-5-4

Race 6 - 3:58PM GREAT NORTHERN Class 2 Handicap (1100 METRES)

9 Deputize

Deputize returned a gelding last start and the procedure evidently worked wonders for him.

The Neasham & Archibald-trained son of Dubious showed good speed to lead over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast before putting his rivals to win by 4.5 lengths in good time.

He’ll strip fitter second-up and connections must think he has ability to jump from a maiden to a Class 2.

Jag Guthmann-Chester retains the ride and just needs to find a spot from the potentially tricky gate.

Selections: 9-2-11-1

Race 7 - 4:33PM SCHWEPPES RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 Handicap (1690 METRES)

1 Fast Da

Fast Da gave his rivals a galloping lesson last start over 1540m on the Gold Coast Poly track.

The Lee Freedman-trained gelding led into the straight before sprinting clear to win by 4.5 lengths.

While he clearly enjoys the synthetic surface, he has raced well on grass including a 1.8 length fourth two starts back when caught wide at Warwick.

Paul Hammersley has come to Ipswich just for this ride and should be able to dictate the speed given his mount is the only one that is likely to go forward.

Selections: 1-5-9-6

Race 8 - 5:10PM IPSWICH EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE BENCHMARK 58 Handicap (1200 METRES)

1 Able Seaman

Able Seaman was excellent when resuming from a 70-week spell at the Sunshine Coast two starts ago.

The Tony Gollan-trained gelding let down strongly to claim the 1200m contest by 1.5 lengths.

Unfortunately, after such a long break he raced a touch flat last start at Eagle Farm when weakening to finish 3.5 lengths seventh.

He’ll strip fitter third-up and maps to get a great run for Jimmy Orman.

Selections: 1-5-6-9

Best Bets

Race 4 – Star Act (11)

Race 5 – Diamond Lass (8)

By Craig Sheppard