News
Meeting In Review – 4 August 2023
Date: 07-Aug-2023
We kicked off the 2023/24 racing season on Friday with an eight-race card.
We’ve provided a recap of some of the highlights that happened on the day.
Two For Thompson
Jockey Ben Thompson started the new Ipswich season on the right note by riding a winning double.
The popular hoop teamed up with the Michael Nolan-trained Tricketeer (pictured) in the opening race of the day, the FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate.
With a number of his rivals scratched, the Toowoomba gelding started a red hot $1.18 favourite for the 800m scamper.
The son of Better Than Ready jumped well to briefly lead but was headed by Side Show Sally. Thompson was happy to sit at her girth.
Side Show Sally gave a good kick as they straightened, and it took all the straight for Tricketeer to run down the leader.
While you’d like a horse at such prohibitive odds to win in easier fashion, he was strongest when it counted and won by a neck.
The win was the first of Tricketeer’s five start career.
Thompson’s second win of the day came in race 4, THE SHED COMPANY Class 2 Handicap over 1100m.
He partnered the Tony Gollan-trained Radiant Remi who was first-up following a six-month spell.
The Spirit Of Boom mare left the gates well but not as quickly as stablemate Kobe Lad.
Thompson was happy for Jimmy Orman to lead on Kobe Lad and he settled in a nice position, third, one out one back.
With 400m to go, Thompson stoked up the four-year-old, getting her to the outside upon straightening.
She let down powerfully to run past Kobe Lad and thwart the challenge of Spanish Angels to win by a small margin.
As we’ve come to expect, it was a perfect ride from Thompson that delivered the victory.
Thompson’s winning double delivered him the early lead in the 2023/24 Ipswich Jockeys Premiership.
Guthmann-Chester's Impressive Ipswich Record
Gold Coast jockey Jag Guthmann-Chester doesn’t venture to Ipswich often, but when he does punters should take notice.
Over the past twelve months, Guthmann-Chester has had 44 rides at the Bundamba Circuit for eight wins and 12 placings.
His winning strike-rate during this past year is 18.2%, which places him second to last season’s Ipswich premiership jockey Jimmy Orman.
Even more impressive from a wagering point of view is his 50.5% return on investment.
Fresh off a winning Ipswich double two weeks ago, the gun hoop added another win to his tally at Friday’s meeting.
Guthmann-Chester regularly rides for the Annabel Neasham stable so it was fitting he won aboard their gelding, Summer In Siam, in the STROUD HOMES IPSWICH Class 2 Handicap.
The four-year-old gelding was having his first start in Queensland after previously being based at Neasham’s Warwick Farm operation.
The son of Spieth showed good speed out of the gates to settle second in the 1690m contest.
Guthmann-Chester edged closer to leader Lucky Rascal as they passed the Great Northern sign with 600m to go.
Summer In Siam drove to the lead on straightening and while Harmony Reigns came at him late, he had done enough to claim the win.
It was a well-executed ride from Guthmann-Chester and yet another example of why it would be great to see him ride at Ipswich more often.
Former Jockey Trains First Ipswich Winner
Former top Melbourne jockey Jason Patton retired from race riding in 2009 but always had an urge to try his hand at training.
More than ten years have passed since his retirement, but the Group 1 winning hoop finally made his way into the training caper earlier this year.
Based on the Gold Coast, Patton’s small team has been to the races 28 times for five wins.
His fifth career victory and first at Ipswich as a conditioner came in Friday’s ROSE JENSEN KENT LAWYERS Class 4 Handicap with Olympic Legend.
It was just the sixth runner that the 1994 Oakleigh Plate winning jockey had saddled up at Ipswich.
Apprentice jockey Jai Williams stamped Olympic Legend’s card ‘urgent’ as soon as the gates opened for the 1350m contest.
The seven-year-old gelding strode to the front to take up the running.
However, Mensa Maestro’s jockey Melea Castle was not content with the speed being set and pushed on at the 800m mark to lead at a strong tempo.
Williams edged closer on the turn before hitting the front at the top of the straight.
Race favourite Uncle Russ loomed mid-straight but under the urging of Williams, Olympic Legend dug deep to pull away late for a 0.8 of a length win.
Earlier in the day, Patton put the polish on Despereaux in the SEVEN NEWS Fillies and Mares RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 Handicap.
The five-year-old mare put in an eye-catching performance, finishing off strongly from the second half of the field to finish third by 1.4 lengths.
That was just her first race for Patton and she’ll no doubt strip fitter second-up and appreciate a rise in trip.
By Craig Sheppard
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