Meeting In Review 28 July 2023

Date: 31-Jul-2023

The 2022/23 Ipswich racing season drew to a close on Friday with an eight-race card.

We’ve provided a recap of some of the highlights that happened on the day.

Orman Caps Terrific Season In Style

This season’s Ipswich Jockeys Premiership has been a one act affair with the star of the show, Jimmy Orman.

The talented hoop has ridden more than double the number of winners of his nearest rival and capped his terrific season off with a double at Friday’s meeting.

Orman bookended the eight-race card, kicking off his winning day about the Michael Nolan-trained Tenby in the opening event, the STRIVE TO BE KIND DAY QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap.

Tenby was on debut and despite a trial win leading into his first race, drifted from $3.70 to $7.

The Spirit Of Boom colt lacked early dash and found himself at the back of the pack in the 800m contest. Not an ideal situation to be in.

He appeared to be under hard riding prior to entering the straight but sprouted wings with a furlong to go to blast past the field and go on to win by half a length.

The Toowoomba conditioner was pleased to train a winner for Eureka Stud and also help contribute to Orman’s premiership campaign.

“It’s my first horse with Scott, Grania and Angus McAlpine for quite some time,” Nolan said.

“I trained back in the day for Colin, so I’ve had a bit of experience with the colours.

“I was lucky that they gave me a really nice horse.

“Admittedly he’s had some issues and that’s why he’s nearly four getting to the races.

“He’s a lovely horse that trialed good in Toowoomba.

“I’m just happy to be back training for them.

“We only give them 650m jump outs up there so you never know what you’re in against, but I said to Jimmy to just get him where’s he comfortable.

“He’s always strong to the line and Jimmy’s riding great and I know he needs the premiership so I’m happy to help out there too!”

Orman had to wait until the final race of the day for his second winning ride.

In the PENNYWISE RATINGS BAND 0 - 62 Handicap over 1200m, the popular jockey partnered Riviera Blue.

The four-year-old gelding was having his first start for Billy Healey after previously racing in New South Wales with Matthew Smith.

With a strong tempo set early, Orman elected to settle midfield on the fence from barrier 2.

Riviera Blue had plenty of work to do as they entered the straight and it looked like he may run into traffic issues.

However, Orman was able to expertly weave a path through the field before exploding to the line late to win by just under half a length.

It was an excellent ride that epitomised why Orman has been clearly the best jockey at Ipswich this season.

Neasham And Thornton - A Winning Double Act

The Annabel Neasham stable brought just two horses, Ozzie The Rabbit and Thankful Heart, to Ipswich on Friday and they both returned to their Eagle Farm base as winners.

With Group 1 winning jockey Damien Thornton in the saddle for both rides, it proved to be a lethal trainer/jockey combination.

The first of the dynamic duo’s victories came in race 2, the KINGSLEY LAWSON LAWYERS QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap with Ozzie The Rabbit.

The Encryption gelding was having his first race start and remained steady at $4.20 following a nice trial win.

Following a slightly tardy start, Thornton was able quickly settle fourth the fence in the 1200m race.

Thornton waited patiently before crossing the leading pairs heels mid-straight to allow his mount to let down powerfully to pick off Kesalul late and claim the win by the better part of a neck.

It proved an excellent decision to scratch the horse from a winnable race on Wednesday at Doomben.

Later in the day, Neasham and Thornton teamed up with Thankful Heart in THE LAWN SHED Maiden Handicap over 1200m.

The son of Mikki Isle was having just his second start and his first for Neasham.

He started a warm favourite after impressing in a barrier trial prior to his first-up run on Friday.

It was willing early, but Thornton took full advantage of the kind draw to drive forward and take up proceedings.

Thornton gave Thankful Heart one, two with the shillelagh at the top of the straight and the four-year-old dashed clear by a few lengths.

Mission To Win closed the gap late but it proved to be a comfortable win for Thankful Heart.

With his maiden win now ticked off, Thankful Heart should be able to go on and score more wins.

The Neasham and Thornton combination added another win together at Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting proving that they should be followed.

Underdogs Come Out On Top

Names like Gollan, Waller and Neasham are regulars in the winners list so it’s always nice to see trainers with small teams enjoying success.

That was the case on Friday when Indiana Turner and Chris Meehan put the polish on horses that returned to the winner's stall.

Turner put the saddle on Cosmic Serenade in the PRECINCT URBAN PLANNING BENCHMARK 62 Handicap.

The four-year-old mare was having just her fourth start for the Gold Coast trainer after previously racing with Matthew Morrison.

Under apprentice Jai Williams, Cosmic Serenade flew out of the gates to settle outside the lead in the 800m scamper.

A battle ensued with Gossip Torque and the pair duked it out in the run home.

With fitness on her side, Cosmic Serenade got the better of her rival to dash away for a 0.8 of a length win.

Turner, who also strapped on the day, was pleased to register a win with the You Song mare.

“She’s had a lot of things not go her way,” Turner said.

“Her form reads pretty average for this preparation to be fair.

“We took her to Scone last week in what was probably a stiffer race.

“It was still down in grade but I thought the horses down there would be a lot more competitive than these ones.

“With a bit of weight relief, back in trip and kept fresh...she’s gone well.

“Jai rode her perfectly.”

Winning hoop Williams revealed that the camp was confident heading into the race.

“Indiana said this horse was quick and just wasn’t handling the 1000m,” Williams said.

“He came here pretty confident today (Friday).

“She jumped really well which allowed me to sit outside the leader and I was very happy with how she finished.”

Deagon conditioner Chris Meehan only has a handful of horses in his stable and prior to Friday’s BNB DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION QTIS Three-Year-Old BENCHMARK 65 Handicap, had trained just the two winners.

His first career win as a trainer came at Ipswich in January with Rocked and he returned on Friday with the same horse looking for win number three.

Mark Du Plessis settled in the second half of the field shortly after the gates opened for the 1666m contest.

Rocked enjoyed a beautiful run behind a steady speed before the popular jockey moved the Fastnet Rock gelding off the fence with 600m to go.

He still had five lengths to make up at the top of the straight, but Du Plessis got him to the outside to allow him to go through his gears before lifting him over the line to win by a nose.

It was another excellent ride by Du Plessis who is riding in great form at the moment.

The win kept Rocked’s unbeaten record at Ipswich intact.

By Craig Sheppard

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