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Meeting In Review 7 December 2022
Date: 08-Dec-2022
Sweltering conditions made Wednesday’s Ipswich Turf Club meeting uncomfortable for participants. As it turned out, the action on the track was just as hot.
Torbreck Provides Geran Family With The Bread
The opening event of the day, FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB Class 4 Handicap over 1520 metres, may have only had the five starters but that made it no less intriguing.
Valley Of Dreams started as a $2.70 favourite but it was the Corey and Kylie Geran-trained Torbreck that would get the bread.
Le Heros was expected to vie for the lead but he lept in the air as the gates opened causing him to be slow away. Torbreck, Valley Of Dreams and Hail To The Chief all began well with Hail To The Chief eventually taking the lead.
In the back straight, jockey Gary Geran eased out on Torbreck to sit one off the fence just behind the leader. Geran got the son of Sebring rolling on the turn, drawing level as they straightened. With just over 100 metres to go, Torbreck found plenty to pull away for a 1.3 length win.
The Geran Racing operation is a family affair with father, Gary and son, Corey working together on Torbreck’s success plan.
“I take a little bit of notice of Corey,” Gary said.
“He’s a pretty good form student and probably does it better than me.
“We had a plan but It was a tricky race actually.
“We wanted to free roll a bit. He’s not a sit and sprint sort of horse.
“With the one alley, we wanted to use it so I thought we’d see what happened the first one hundred metres.
“If they wanted it they’d have to go for it pretty hard.
“When Isabella (Rabjones) took it up, I came off the fence as I didn’t want to get locked away because he’s got no sprint. He’s a dour, big strong, batting away type.
“It was the right class of race and everything worked out.”
Corey revealed that Torbreck, who wears the distinctive KO Racing colours, had paid his owners back impressively and had lived up to his expectations.
“We bought him online for about $20,000 so he wasn’t too expensive,” Corey said.
“Fortunately he has won our money back and then some for us.
“I always thought he’d get a bit further than he has today (Wednesday) so it was really good to see him run that race strong.”
There is no doubt Corey is proud of his father and has full trust in his ability to give the horse every possible chance.
“I didn’t know where we were going to be in the run so I just left it up to Dad,” Corey said.
“I shouldn’t have to tell him much now as he knows what he’s doing.
“It probably doesn’t matter what I say to Dad half the time because he’s just going to do his own thing.
“You couldn’t have anyone better riding.
“You know he’s going to go out there and give it his all for us and he does it every time.”
Corey paid tribute to the important contribution all members of the Geran Racing team made including regular rider of Torbreck, Cameron Creevey.
“Along with Dad, Cam rides Torbreck a lot as well,” Corey revealed.
“They’re our main two and we couldn’t do it without the whole team at home.
“We’ve got 40 in work and minimal staff at the minute. It’s a big job and I have to thank everyone involved.”
Wednesday’s Ipswich win took Torbreck’s career tally to five and third since joining the Toowoomba stable just nine starts ago.
Heathcote’s Perfect Day Out At Ipswich
The Rob Heathcote stable brought two horses to Wednesday’s Ipswich meeting and both horses returned to their Eagle Farm base as winners.
The winning day kicked off in the SCHWEPPES Maiden Handicap over 1100 metres with Zouvalu.
With Ben Thompson in the saddle, Zouvalu exploded out of the gates to lead. Thompson controlled the speed in front. The daughter of Zoustar kicked clear at the top of the straight before finding something late to claim a half-length win.
Heathcote stable representative Baylee Nothdurft was pleased the four-year-old mare was able to break through for her maiden win. The former jockey revealed that there was improvement to come for Zouvalu.
“We thought we’d brought her here to the races today (Wednesday) fit enough to run well but thought she’d also take benefit from the run,” Nothdurft said.
“It was good to see her do that first-up.
“Ben rode her really well in front and she gave a good kick.
“The last 100 metres was going to be a query but she toughed it out really well.”
Nothdurft believes the Ipswich track is ideal for Zouvalu’s style of racing.
“She’s got an affiliation with this track,” Nothdurft said.
“It suits on speed horses like her. Hopefully she can take a bit of confidence out of the win.”
The stable’s second win of the day came in the KINGSLEY LAWSON LAWYERS Maiden Plate over 2170 metres.
Eureka’s Victory put the writing on the wall last start when finishing second over the Ipswich Cup distance.
Georgina Cartwright made full use of the inside gate to take up the running. In the back straight, Slick Heels joined Eureka’s Victory in the lead. Cartwright was having none of that and turned on the blow torch turning for home. She skipped clear to break her rivals hearts and record a 2.5 length victory.
It was a dominant display by Eureka’s Victory that saw her tick off his first win at start number 12 and give the Heathcote team a winning double.
Military Gambler Delivers Overdue Win
The Chris Munce-trained Military Gambler won at his second start in March 2021 but since then it has been a frustrating run of second placings.
Entering Wednesday’s TAB Class 2 Plate, the grey four-year-old stat sheet read, 13 starts for one win and six seconds.
The market believed Military Gambler was close to a good thing to record win number two, backing the gelding into a $1.22 favourite.
With Irish jockey Martin Harley in the saddle, Military Gambler pinged out of the gates but was quickly overtaken for the lead by Tea Leaves. Harley was happy to sit at Tea Leaves’ girth before ambling up prior to straightening.
The hot favourite hit the front in the run home and pulled away for a comfortable 1.3 length win.
Stable Foreman Corey Munce was pleased to get the monkey off Military Gambler’s back and see the son of Rommel get an overdue win.
“This was his race,” Munce said.
“He’s been a touch unlucky through this preparation.
“Last start he just got nipped on the line and first-up here at Ipswich he was forced throughout the trip and again just got beat.
“His foot has been on the till and thankfully today (Wednesday) he came here and got the win.”
Data Finds The Right Patch
Striking grey galloper Data Patch has seen his fair share of stables in his brief career.
The four-year-old has spent time at three training operations prior to ending up at Adam Campton’s Gold Coast digs where he currently resides.
The move has obviously agreed with the son of Exceed And Excel. He won at his first start with Campton in Wednesday’s GREAT NORTHERN Maiden Handicap.
Data Patch was heavily backed into $1.95 when the gates crashed back. Under Jimmy Orman, he jumped well and took up a forward position. He kicked clear entering the straight and dashed away for a 1.5 length win.
There is no hiding from the fact that other trainers have failed to work out Data Patch. He’s had 16 gear changes throughout a seven race career.
Campton said that he just wanted to strip it all back and start from scratch with the horse.
“I just wanted to start again with him,” Campton said.
“He’s a quirky horse. It’s sort of his way or the highway.
“He’s beautiful around the stables but he will do what he wants.
“He was great here today (Wednesday). He was really relaxed and the boys did a great job with him in the stalls.
“I’m just proud of the horse because I think he has a lot of potential.”
While Wednesday’s win was just a maiden, Campton is aiming big with Data Patch believing that he’s a Stakes horse.
Horses To Follow
Race 7 - Atlantic Way: Led from barrier to box to win the 1100m contest impressively. That’s three wins from as many starts since joining the Mark Currie stable in Toowoomba and no doubt there’s more to come.
Previously mentioned horses Data Patch and Military Gambler can be followed with confidence going forward.
By Craig Sheppard
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