Meeting In Review 18 November 2022

Date: 21-Nov-2022

The Ipswich Turf Club was pumping on Friday with a number of Christmas parties being hosted that created a fantastic vibe on course for our eight-race card. While there was plenty happening off course, the action was just as exciting on the track.

In recent times, we’ve become accustomed to Jimmy Orman riding multiple winners at Ipswich. For the second time in the past month, Orman recorded a winning treble to again be the star of the show.

Along with Orman, here are some of the highlights from Friday’s meeting.

Butterworth Unveils Former Victorian Speedster

There were whispers around that trainer Paul Butterworth had a smart filly on his hands in the form of You Ess Ess Are.

The daughter of Russian Revolution who formerly raced in Victoria with Trent Busutin and Natalie Young in Victoria and was having her first start for Butterworth in Friday’s FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB Maiden Plate.

The whispers were spot on. You Ess Ess Are delivered an impressive display to win the 800 metres contest by four-lengths.

The three-year-old filly wasn’t the quickest to leave the gates but quickly got into stride for jockey Madeleine Wishart to lead. She dashed clear straightening and only extended that lead as she charged to the line, albeit getting off the track, to demoralise her rivals.

Butterworth revealed that You Ess Ess Are’s owners had confidently backed their speedster and collected handsomely.

“She was terrific,” Butterworth said.

“Big thanks to Angelo Efstathis who has been buying me a lot of horses.

“He found her online and got me to look at her. I liked what I saw so congratulations to him.

“It’s a great group of owners.

“That was exciting. We thought she’d probably be $1.80.

“She won a jump out at Doomben, she bolted in.

“So everyone’s had a good bet so it’s been good.”

While Butterworth and the connections expected their filly to win, the Group 1 winning trainer revealed that she had given no indication she could tear off such a quick closing 600 metres sectional.

“She’s not the best away but she’s got an unbelievable turn of foot after about five strides,” Butterworth said.

“She actually looked quite weak in Melbourne like she wasn’t quite ready so we gave her plenty of time once we bought her.

“We brought her up nice and slow. She still wasn't’ cornering our way of going and I wasn’t convinced she was much good until we really put the acid test on her and took her to the jump outs.

“She’s obviously a race day filly because she works okay at home but there’s nothing to say that she could get home in thirty-two seconds.”

Big Win For Local Trainer

You would have been hard pressed to find a happier man than John Hubbard at Friday’s meeting.

The Ipswich trainer put the polish on Twyford to perfection in the GREAT NORTHERN Colts, Geldings and Entires Maiden Plate.

The three-year-old gelding was heavily backed in from $5 into $3.50 and he didn’t let supporters down.

Irish jockey Martin Harley is a recent addition to the Brisbane riding ranks and he demonstrated why he is a jockey to follow with his ride on Twyford. The son of Dream Ahead showed good speed out of the gates to settle in a super spot just behind the leaders.

As they straightened, Harley peeled offer leader Master Tyler’s back to sprint strongly and claim a three-length win over the Chris Munce-trained Money Bear.

Hubbard was over the moon with winning on his home track. He also revealed that like Butterworth in the opening race, he had won a sizable bet.

“I thought he could win,” Hubbard said.

“We missed last week. I had a fair go at him last week at 26s.

“He jumped well and just put himself there. He was just too good,

“It’s better when you can win a race on your hometrack.”

Harley is a five-time Group 1 winning jockey who has recently moved to Brisbane. He has wasted no time getting down to the business of riding winners. Twyford was his first winner in the Sunshine State.

Hubbard explained how the talented international hoop came to ride Twyford.

“He’s a pretty good mate of Kerrin McEvoy’s and I’m a good mate of his so that’s how it’s come about,” Hubbard said.

Friday’s win was Twyford’s first at start number seven. Hubbard believes there’s more to come for a horse he rates highly.

“He’ll win a couple more,” Hubbard said.

“The penny is just starting to drop, he’s a good horse.”

Halfahope Proving A Nice Addition To The Anderson Stable

Four-year-old gelding Halfahope only joined Chris Anderson’s Eagle Farm stable in August this year.

Since then Halfahope has proven to be a handy galloper to have in the barn. On Friday he added another win to his resume when he claimed the FUTURE FINANCE GROUP Colts, Geldings & Entires BENCHMARK 60 Handicap.

Halfahope was well supported by the market, starting a $3.20 favourite. Under apprentice Marnu Potgieter, Halfahope jumped well off the inside gate to lead the 1200 metres contest.

The 1.5 kg claiming apprentice rated his mount well in front before booting clear as heads turned for home. The further they went, the more Halfahope increased his lead. He won easily by 2.8 lengths thanks to a great Potgieter ride.

Anderson was pleased that his new charge was able to get into the winner’s stall and praised his jockey for a super ride.

“He’s going really well,” Anderson said.

“Obviously he’s a new addition to the stable and he’s putting his best foot forward.

“Full credit to Marnu (Potgieter). He rated the horse beautifully.

“He had a lot of horse underneath him.

“I guess the only query we had coming here today (Friday) was whether he’d handle the seven day back-up and he did that really well.

“He’s a horse racing in a good vein of form.”

Anderson was unsure what was on the horizon for the son of Outreach but said he would not die wondering.
“I don’t know where we’ll go with him next but I guess maybe a midweek metro is an option,” Anderson said.

“We’ve certainly got nothing to lose. He’s had the four starts for me for two wins, a second and a fourth now.

“Maybe we’ll have a throw at the stumps.

“He was full of running late so hopefully there’s better things to come.”

Another Orman Clinic

Gun jockey Jimmy Orman again starred in the saddle at Friday’s meeting.

It feels like after every Ipswich meeting, we’re commenting on the heroics of the state’s leading jockey. That’s again the case in this review.

Just as he did at Ipswich’s last Friday meeting on October 28, Orman notched up a riding treble.

The popular hoop registered his first win of the meeting in the CROWNE RE GEOFF & ALLY BENCHMARK 58 Handicap aboard Ay Bee Are.

Orman put the Barry Lockwood-trained gelding to sleep three pairs back on the fence. Racecaller Jarrod Wessel commented during his call that Ay Bee Are may need some luck to get off the fence as they turned for home. However, in true Orman fashion he had no dramas getting his mount into the clear before charging down the outside to win the distance test by 2.5 lengths.

Lockwood commented post-race that Orman would be able to put a teddy bear to sleep.

It didn’t take long for Orman to record his second win of the day. In the very next race, the TOTAL CLUB MANAGEMENT Fillies and Mares BENCHMARK 60 Handicap, Orman piloted Les Ross’ Mishani Esprit to victory.

With the speed on, Orman settled at the tail of the field. Mishani Esprit was still nine-lengths off the leaders on the home turn. That forced Orman to take off with 700 metres to go before saving ground on the fence. Entering the straight the pair had plenty of work to do but the four-year-old mare jumped out of the ground in the concluding stages to claim the win.

The Eagle Farm trainer praised Orman for the ride stating that he could win on a broomstick at the moment.

Orman wrapped up his winning treble when he guided the heavily backed Euro Belle to a half-length win in the COLENSO JOINERY SUMMER PROVINCIAL SPRINT SERIES - HEAT - BENCHMARK 75 Handicap. Coincidently Orman also won on the Gillian Heinrich-trained mare the last time he rode an Ipswich treble.

The 2020/21 Ipswich leading jockey is building a commanding lead in this year’s title race. His three Friday winners took his total to 15 for the 2022/23 season, a whopping seven clear of his nearest rival.

Next Ipswich Meeting

With the Gold Coast Turf Club hosting metropolitan racing for Recognition Stakes day, the Ipswich Turf Club will take their usual Saturday meeting on November 26.

By Craig Sheppard

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