Meeting In Review 27 May 2023

Date: 29-May-2023

The Seven Family Race Day attracted a good crowd to Saturday’s nine-race meeting. While an animal farm, rock climbing wall and a jumping castle entertained the kids off the track, there were plenty of quality things happening on the track.

Cahill Bags A Treble

Veteran jockey Michael Cahill turned back the clock on Saturday with a winning treble. Adding to the impressive performance, Cahill only came to Ipswich for four rides.

The 2012/23 Ipswich Premiership winning jockey registered his first win of the day aboard Infancy in the opening race of the day, the FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap.

Cahill took bad luck out of the equation by driving the Kris Lees-trained filly forward from the outside gate to take up the running. The red-hot favourite, Bohemian Lad, loomed up on the turn to challenge for the lead and that appeared to place Infancy under pressure.

However, the daughter of Wandjina produced plenty in the straight to not only fend off the challenge but dash clear to win by a length. It was Infancy’s second win and it kept her unbeaten record intact.

While Cahill took down the $1.45 favourite in the opening race, in race 5 the INFIELD FESTIVAL 17 JUNE Class 2 Handicap he was the jockey riding the raging favourite.

Cahill teamed up with Billy’s Bro who started a $1.50 popular elect in the 1200m contest. The Chris Meagher-trained four-year-old was only fairly away but mustered speed to settle third.

The multiple Group 1 winning hoop got his mount to the outside as they entered the straight. He let down well and it looked like he was going to race away from the chasing pack, but he peaked late, and he scraped in for a narrow win.

While he provided his backers with a few nervous moments, he got the victory.

Cahill rounded out his winning day in the SEVEN Maiden Plate over 1100m where he partnered Ellows Hall. The Tina Cotsiopoulos-trained three-year-old had shown very little in his six previous starts and as a result started a $21 outsider.

The Under The Louvre gelding showed good speed out of the barriers but soon drifted back through the field to settle second last. Cahill improved on the turn and brought his mount to the extreme outside on straightening. With the rail 11.5m out, Ellows Hall was close to the outside fence.

He had plenty of work to do but he let down powerfully to get up in the shadows of the post. It was an exciting finish with six horses spread out across the track all driving towards the line.

If not for the outside gate in the BS KNEES RATINGS BAND 0 - 62 Handicap, Cahill very may well have won all four rides on the day. Orsetto was working home well for Cahill but just had too much work to do from the poor draw.

Chernak Brains Opposition

Champion trainer Chris Waller celebrated his next superstar stayer Kovalica winning the Group 1 Queensland Derby on Saturday.

While he won’t rise to the same heights as his stablemate, Chernak looks a promising stayer in his own right for Waller.

The five-year-old gelding has taken some time to find his feet but a move to Waller’s Queensland stable seems to have given him a new lease of life.

Chernak took his place in Saturday’s TAB Class 1 Plate following a good effort at Eagle Farm last start. Despite that, he surprisingly didn’t start favourite.

Apprentice Casey Waddell settled towards the back of the field before making her move at the Great Northern sign at the 600m mark. The son of Dariyan easily circled the field to draw level with the leader and race favourite Port Mourant as they entered the straight.

Chernak let down powerfully to dash clear in the straight. The further he went, the wider the margin became. The final margin was 5.5 lengths but could have been more.

It may have only been a Class 1 but there was a level of arrogance to the win that suggests he can win more staying races in Queensland.

Harley Returns From Broken Neck

Jockey Martin Harley may have had to settle for second aboard Bohemian Lad in race 1 on Saturday, but like everyone in the racing industry, he would have been over the moon to be back in the saddle.

Harley broke his neck in a horrific fall in January. The Irish hoop is lucky to be walking let alone race riding.

The popular jockey put in a lot of hard work during his amazing recovery and deserves all the success that comes his way.

We wish Martin all the best as he strives to get back to the top level.

Club Welcomes Victorian Trainer

The Ipswich Turf Club were pleased to welcome Victorian trainer Richard Laming to the track on Saturday.

Laming didn’t have any runners at the meeting but did make use of the club’s facilities to put two of his Queensland Racing Carnival aspirants through their paces in an exhibition gallop on the course proper.

Ipswich committee man Trent Quinn caught up with the Cranbourne conditioner following the pleasing pieces of work by Purveyor and Bank Maur.

Purveyor missed a run at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but Laming is hopeful he can gain a start in the Group 1 JJ Atkins in two weeks.

“His work was very good,” Laming said.

“He worked with a good horse Bank Maur so his work pleased me.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t get the start today, but we’ll head to Doomben on Wednesday for a Class 1 Mile and all going well, head to the JJ Atkins.”

Laming also directed Ipswich members and racegoers to Bank Maur who also worked well and is a light-weight chance in Queensland’s premier race, the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

“Bank Maur is a lovely colt,” Laming said.

“He’s heading towards the Stradbroke Handicap. It’s fifty fifty whether he’ll gain a start but if he does, he’ll only have 51kg on his back.

“He went really well last start and was only beaten a nose by Jacquinot so if he can get a start and get a good draw, he’s a chance with the bottom weight.”

We wish Richard all the best throughout the Queensland winter and hopefully we’ll see him and his horses on Ipswich Cup Day.

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