News
Meeting In Review 31 August 2022
Date: 01-Sep-2022
Metropolitan racing came to the Ipswich Turf Club on Wednesday with seven races run and won. It was a competitive day's racing with no trainer or jockey winning more than one race each.
Following overnight showers, the meeting began on a Soft 7 surface. However, a warm day with light winds saw an upgrade to a Soft 6 following the running of the opening race. Jockey Ryan Maloney commented after his win aboard Son Of Mercury in race 3 that with continued fine weather, track conditions were close to perfect. Unfortunately showers late in the afternoon saw the track back in the Soft 7 range.
The club will take a small hiatus from racing over the next month while the track receives some renovation works. Phase one of a drainage project as well as replacing the sand training track with an all-weather sand fibre track will also take place during this time. We’ll return on Wednesday, September 28.
But first let’s review Wednesday’s racing.
Thornton Says Yes To Excess In Opening Race
Jockey Stephanie Thornton is known for her winning smile. It was in full effect when she returned to scale following Wednesday’s opening race.
Thornton piloted the Chris Anderson-trained Yes To Excess in the FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap. The market took a set to the filly after she drew the outside gate.
However, that did not deter the charming hoop who gave the daughter of Rubick a beautiful ride. Unlike her previous start, Yes To Excess jumped quickly allowing Thornton to go forward and lead the 1200 metre race. The pair enjoyed a sweet run and had plenty to offer in the straight, dashing clear to win by just under a length.
Thornton admitted that she expected more pressure in front but enjoyed how the race panned out and how the three-year-old was progressing.
“She was perfect today,” Thornton said.
“Speaking to Chris this morning, we drew ten of ten and really just wanted to put her in the race so we were going to be pretty positive from the alley.
“Particularly with the rail out ten metres here too, you don’t want to be getting too far back with too much work to do when you straighten.
“She was an angel once she found the front. She was really relaxed and found her groove.
“She is still green. Obviously it was just her fourth start today (Wednesday) and she’s still learning her craft.
“I really liked the way she did things today and things panned out beautifully for us.”
Button Brews Express Success
When only one nomination was received for Wednesday’s 1350 metre SIRROMET QTIS Three-Year-Old BENCHMARK 68 Handicap, trainer Tom Button saw an opportunity to make some money for his owners.
Button entered Cocobrew Express and Four Mile Lane. It proved a masterstroke with the pair claiming the quinella with Cocobrew Express coming out on top.
Punters believed Cocobrew Express was close to unbeatable, backing the Spill The Beans gelding into a $1.40 favourite. The three-year-old looked the leader on paper but apprentice jockey Jasmine Cornish was happy to take a sit in third once it was apparent others wanted to lead.
The young hoop got off the fence prior to straightening to give her mount ample time to unwind. He took a while to get to the front but once he did he easily accounted for his rivals, winning by a length.
The Canungra-based trainer revealed that Wednesday’s race wasn’t on his radar.
“It was a real winnable race,” Button said.
“We actually didn’t have him nominated at first. I think there was only one nomination.
“I was set to trial him yesterday but thought it’s better to go around here and earn a bit of money for the owners.”
While Cocobrew Express was able to win the race fairly comfortably, Button suggested there was a lot more to come from him.
“There’s definitely improvement to come,” Button said.
“He was at the trial stage but he’s got a bit of ability so he was able to shine through today.
“The second horse was good too.”
Cornish was ably supported by her female counterparts in the second race with Tegan Harrison, Sam Collett and Angela Jones filling places second through fourth.
Son Of Mercury Breaks Maiden
Former Victorian galloper Son Of Mercury was searching for his first win when he lined up in Wednesday’s IGA PROUDLY INDEPENDENT Maiden Handicap over 1350m.
Son Of Mercury was transferred to Tony Gollan four months ago after racing with the Maher and Eustace team but had yet to win in two previous starts for his new stable.
After a quick getaway, jockey Ryan Maloney settled fourth behind what was a leisurely tempo. As they approached the run home, Maloney came three wide before leveling up as they straightened. The race was as good as over when Son Of Mercury shot clear with a furlong to go. The final margin was two-lengths.
Queensland’s leading trainer was happy to get the win for a great group of owners that included the mother of one of his employees.
“It was a really good win,” Gollan said.
“Georgie Cartwright rode him the other day at the Sunny Coast and felt that he wanted to go to 1350 metres and we probably rode him a touch close.
“Today, Ryan rode him back just a little bit. It got messy along the back there but once he dropped the bridle and started to settle, he looked the winner from way out.
“He should get a mile. He’s by Street Boss and has a bit of pedigree about him.
“It’s a good ownership group and they’ve got a nice horse that they’ll have some fun with.”
Maloney was certainly not surprised with the four-year-old son of Street Boss’ winning comfortably.
“It certainly looked his race on paper,” Maloney said.
“He met a moderate sort of field. He worked well first and second-up and looked to be peaking third-up.
“Everything fell into place. I pushed the button a little bit earlier than I normally would but with that early soft tempo and I think he’s a genuine miler so I put them to the sword and he was too good.
“If he meets a similar field next start, I can’t see why he can’t go on with it.”
Son Of Mercury’s victory extended Gollan’s lead on the Ipswich Trainers premiership to 4 wins. Maloney also increased his lead in the Jockey race.
White Has A Good One On Her Hands
Sunshine Coast trainer Louise White couldn’t wipe the smile off his face after her mare Hakkai Maru impressively won Wednesday’s IGA, LOCALS SUPPORTING LOCALS Fillies and Mares Class 2 Handicap.
The lightly raced four-year-old was having her first race start since January this year. There were some concerns that she was a risk taking on 1200 metres for the first time with the market reflecting that with a drift from $3.50 to $5.
However, those concerns were misplaced. Under jockey Boris Thornton, Hakkai Maru mustered speed quickly to lead the field. The pair enjoyed a nice run in front which made it difficult for the chasers. Midway up the straight, the Maurice mare went ‘bang’ and blasted away to win by 2.3 lengths.
The win took Hakkai Maru’s record to three wins from five starts. White was extremely happy with seeing her mare win in such a fashion but it also came with a big sense of relief.
“It’s such a relief,” White said.
“She’s a beautiful horse. She had a little bit of time off with a couple of setbacks so it was good,
“I knew she was pretty spot on. She’s never raced over 1200 metres but I never believed it would be in doubt.
“She’s pretty classy and she knows it.”
The Sunshine Coast trainer wasn’t getting carried away with the win, preferring to take it one step at a time. However, she does dream of winning stronger races.
“We’re taking it a race at a time but obviously black-type is what we want,” White said.
Given the dominance and style of the win, White may have her dreams come true.
Snazzy Win For Dunn
The Matthew Dunn-trained Snazz ‘N’ Charm has had a penchant for getting back in his races and running on.
That can lead to a reliance on luck in running and hard luck stories. With the rail out 10 metres at Ipswich on Wednesday, the chestnut gelding again looked to be up against it in the IGA LOCALS MATTER Colts, Geldings and Entires Class 2 Handicap.
Jockey Brodie Loy had a plan to overcome that and it played out to perfection. The young hoop has been making a good fist of riding since moving to Queensland and that was again on show.
Loy settled fifth the fence and only just a few lengths off the leader. Suited by a strong gallop in front, Loy eased his mount off the fence as they approached the straight. With light rain falling, Snazz ‘N’ Charm charged to the line to win by 1.3 lengths.
Loy admitted that he learned from his last ride on the son of Snitzel and put the lesson learned in play in the 1200 metre test. He also paid tribute to Dunn for the support he has received from the stable.
“He travelled beautifully,” Loy said.
“I probably got a bit too far back last start. He only does what you make him do so I was onto it today.
“We got a beautiful cart in and he really put them away.
“He pricked the ears and rolled around a little bit, he might have been doing it a bit too easy.
“He pulled up a little bit late but he did enough today.
“All credit to Matty Dunn who has given me a lot of opportunities at the moment so it was good to get the job done.”
Holly Julius, who is in charge of running Dunn’s Murwillumbah stable, was pleased with the win noting that Snazz ‘N’ Charm enjoys his trips to Ipswich.
“He usually gets a bit further back and he’s a real battler and grinder coming from behind but he was closer today,” Julius said.
“That seemed to get the job done today with the rail being so far out.
“He’s a beautiful horse and a little darling…we love him in the stable.
“He loves Ipswich. His last win was here and just loves coming here.”
Speed Freak Gets The Cash
Skilord had only won one race in 12 starts prior to joining the Mark Currie yard earlier this year.
Life in Toowoomba obviously agrees with the speedy customer as he has won three of his past five starts including Wednesday’s TRIVIA NIGHT 16 SEPTEMBER Class 4 Handicap over 1100m.
The six-year-old gelding started a $1.90 favourite despite jumping from barrier nine in the field of ten. There was a mad go for the lead with the jockeys of Frisco’s Image and Magnitudo intent on holding Skilord wide.
Apprentice jockey Angela Jones pushed on with Skilord to find the front eventually on the turn. Attempts to soften the gelding up failed and booted clear in the straight proving too good for his rivals.
Skilord broke the opposition’s hearts with Currie pointing out that the son of Swiss Ace really only knows one way, flat out.
“He doesn’t really know anything different yet,” Currie said.
“He doesn’t know how to race properly. It’s jump, run and that’s it.
“He got them off the bit at the top of the straight and they couldn’t catch him.
“He gives another kick down the running when they’re getting to him and then he holds them.”
Currie pointed out that Skilord goes a hundred mile an hour not just in races but also during trackwork.
“He’s about seventeen hands and takes a bit of riding,” Currie said.
“I don’t have to do much with him. When he’s going home he likes to get going.
“Because he takes some riding, you don’t have to do too much with him so we just run him every ten days or fortnight and that’s about it.
“I give him a bit of trotting and cantering, a bit of three-quarters as slow as hold you can hold him but it's a bit faster with him.”
Wednesday’s win to Skilord’s record to four wins from 17 starts. With the way the gelding goes about his business, there are more short sprint victories in his future.
Duff Dominates Last Race
Deagon trainer Pat Duff came close to claiming the quinella in the final race of the day.
Duff put a saddle on Dream Song and Scottish Prince in the IEEC.COM.AU BENCHMARK 70 Handicap over 1350 metres. It was the latter that came out triumphant with Dream Song not far away in third.
Jockey Tegan Harrison settled Scottish Prince towards the tail of the field. Harrison saved ground rounding the bend and crept up the fence in the straight. Unfortunately she ran into a traffic and looked in trouble, However, Harrison pushed clear through a small gap to charge to the line and win by a whisker.
The veteran conditioner has trained a number of winners lately including Gentle Prince here at Ipswich just last week.
Horses To Follow
Race 4 - Hakkai Maru: Possibly an obvious pick as a horse to follow from the meeting but the mare’s win was truly impressive. Resuming after a decent break that included setbacks, she raced on speed before clocking 33.69 seconds for the final 600m. She’ll strip fitter following today’s run and although only a Class 2 win, she looks capable of progressing to city races.
Race 5 - Ned’s Gully: Was sent out as favourite here but nothing went right for his backers. He was tightened for room and checked at the start which forced Mark Du Plessis to settle at the back. He was then held up in the straight when looking to make his run. Despite that he found the line well to finish third by 1.4 lengths.
By Craig Sheppard
Image Trackside Photography
Back to list