Meeting In Review 3 November 2022

Date: 04-Nov-2022

A magnificent day greeted participants for Thursday’s Ipswich Turf Club meeting. Eight races were run and won on a Good 4 surface under clear blue skies…perfect conditions for racing.

It was a day for winning doubles with Tony Gollan, Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted, Ryan Maloney and Boris Thornton all collecting two wins each.

Gollan’s Successful Ipswich Hit And Run Mission

While the Gollan stable would have been lamenting Zoustyle’s close second in Thursday’s Listed Century Stakes at Flemington, they will get some solace from achieving a perfect day at Ipswich.

Queensland’s leading trainer brought just two horses to the Bundamba circuit, Hidden Wealth and Scat’s Surfer Girl.

Debutante Hidden Wealth created quite an impression in the opening race of the day. The three-year-old son of Better Than Ready had won two trials in good style leading into his first race start.

However, drawing an outside gate in the SIRROMET QTIS Three-Years-Old Maiden Plate over 800 metres turned some off. He drifted from $2.50 to $3.20 by the time the gates opened.

As would be expected in an 800 metres scamper, the speed was on early. Jockey Steph Thornton found herself midfield shortly after the start. As they straightened you could see Hidden Wealth winding up and by the furlong mark he was at full steam down the outside looking like the horse to beat. To the cheers of the owners in the grandstand, the gelding dashed clear to win impressively by 1.3 lengths.

Based on his debut win, Hidden Wealth is definitely a horse to follow going forward.

Gollan didn’t have to wait long to be back in the winner’s stall. The team put the saddle on Scat’s Surfer Girl in race 2, the FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB Maiden Handicap.

The speed map suggested that there was limited early tempo and that was the case to a degree.

Scat’s Surfer Girl led but it did take some effort to get there. From the 1000 metres, the four-year-old mare was able to control proceedings under Ryan Maloney. As they hit the straight, Scat’s Surfer Girl booted clear, opening up a two-length margin. While Enunciation worked home well, the damage had already been done with Scat’s Surfer Girl cruising to a 1.5 length victory.

The win was Scat’s Surfer Girl’s first at start number ten. However, it was just her second start for Gollan.

Gollan became the first trainer this season to hit double figures for wins with 11 and increased his premiership lead to five.

Maloney Claims Winning Double

As just mentioned, jockey Ryan Maloney registered his first winner at Thursday’s Ipswich meeting aboard Scat’s Surfer Girl.

After finishing second on the heavily backed Zoffany’s Lad in race 3, Maloney went one better on another horse punters came for.

Maloney partnered the Kacy Fogden-trained Affogato Girl in the WINNING RUPERT AT GRANDVIEW Fillies and Mares BM65 Handicap.

Affogato Girl came out of the gates midfield but quickly mustered speed to sit just off leader Stryking Princess. Maloney levelled his mount up with the leader as the pair straightened for home,

The pair engaged in a ding dong battle up the Ipswich straight. Affogato Girl found the front, only for Stryking Princess to hit back and reclaim the lead. The duo went toe to toe in the concluding stages with the judge having to separate them in a photo. Much to her supporters, Affogato Girl was deemed the winner.

Maloney’s two wins took him to within one win of Jimmy Orman in this season’s Ipswich Jockey Premiership. However, in typical Orman form he registered a winner of his own later in the day when he piloted Tropics to a half-length victory in the WHITTINGTON AT GRANDVIEW 0 - 60 Handicap.

Orman sits at the top of the premiership table with 10 wins and Maloney second with 8.

O’Dea, Hoysted and Bozza A Winning Combination

Not to be outdone by Gollan, the training partnership of Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted recorded their own training double.

And like Gollan they did it with just the two runners. The Eagle Farm barn brought Secret Memo and Hold On Honey to Ipswich and both were ridden by Boris Thornton.

Secret Memo opened a $2.15 favourite for THE BARN FAMILY RESTAURANT QTIS Three-Years-Old Maiden Handicap. However, by the time they jumped, the chestnut filly while still favourite had drifted to $3.10.

Thornton got the daughter of Capitalist out and running quickly to take the lead in the 1200 metres maiden. As the field caught up to Secret Memo, Thornton hugged the fence while six other horses fanned wide. It was a winning move that saw Secret Memo dash clear by a few lengths. Thornton eased her down late yet the winning margin was still 2.8 lengths.

Secret Memo’s first win came at start number three.

Hoysted and Thornton had to wait until the final race of the day, NEOREALISM AT GRANDVIEW Class 1 Handicap to record their second win together.

The team combined with Hold On Honey. The four-year-old was having her first start for O’Dea and Hoysted after previously racing with Joe Pride in Sydney.

Hold On Honey and the David Vandyke-trained Sacred Oath were involved in a fierce battle for favouritism with Sacred Oath firming late to be the market’s preferred option.

The O’Dea Hoysted daughter of Counterattack pinged out of the gates and looked to be the early leader. However, Penny Stocks and Sassenay drove forward on her inside to head her.

She was given no favours by Sassenay who after going forward then couldn’t keep going leaving Hold On Honey three deep. Thornton pushed on to sit on Penny Stocks back. The tough run could have taken its toll on Hold On Honey but she dashed clear in the straight before holding on for a narrow win.

It was a super run and indicated she’s a mare with some ability that can go through the grades.

Thursday’s two victories were surprisingly the first of this year’s season for O’Dea and Hoysted.

Horses To Follow

Race 1 - Hidden Wealth impressed in his debut over 800m. He raced wide which is never ideal over 800m at Ipswich yet proved superior in the run home to win with plenty in hand. He’ll only get better as he steps up to more suitable distances.

Race 8 - Hold On Honey is a recent addition to the O’Dea Hoysted stable. She had a tough run on-pace but still produced plenty to score first-up. She was entitled to knock up but got home in 34.27 seconds for the final 600 metres.

Next Ipswich Meeting

Racing returns to the Ipswich Turf Club next Wednesday 9 November for a metropolitan midweek meeting.

By Craig Sheppard

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