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Meeting In Review – Saturday 3 February 2024
Date: 05-Feb-2024
Saturday racing took place at Ipswich on the weekend and once again we were treated to some great contests.
There was no better race on the eight-race card as far as competitiveness goes than the Australian Industry Trade College Class 2 Plate.
The 1100m race looked a match race on paper between Kris Lees’ Osterberg and Waterworld (pictured) from the Corey and Kylie Geran stable.
That’s exactly how it turned out with the pair going toe to toe over the final 400m.
Osterberg looked to have the better of Waterworld with 50m to go, but under the urging of veteran hoop Michael Cahill the Toowoomba galloper lifted himself off the canvas to claim a nose victory.
The Gerans were back in the winners' stall just one race later when the consistent Tokyo Sins saluted in the Seven News Benchmark 62 Handicap.
The five-year-old mare settled in front and was never headed, comfortably winning the 1100m contest by 1.5 lengths.
She has proven to be an astute purchase with the daughter of Mikki Isle having won three and placed in four races since joining the stable seven starts ago.
Tokyo Sins was ridden by Jai Williams who had earlier in the day piloted Spicy Duck to victory.
The Paul Butterworth-trained Headwater gelding was having his first start when he lined up in the Follow @IpswichTurfClub QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Handicap.
The market gravitated to Six More Songs, who boasts Ipswich Rugby League legends Allan ‘Alfie’ Langer and Kevin Walters in the ownership.
While Six More Songs started a $1.35 favourite, perhaps it should have been Spicy Duck who should have been that price given how easily he won the race.
Apprentice Williams went straight to the front in the 800m scamper before dashing clear to win by 2.5 lengths.
Ipswich trainers weren’t left out of the celebrations with Trevor Lambourn and Tony Sheehan enjoying success on the day.
Last season’s leading local trainer Lambourn strengthened his hold on this year’s premiership when the heavily backed Heiress won the TAB Maiden Plate over 1100m.
It was an easy watch for those that too the short odds with Madeleine Wishart taking Heiress straight to the front before dashing clear to win by 2.3 lengths.
Sheehan was putting the saddle on just his 16th starter in a training career spanning three and a half years when Vancity took her place in the final race of the day, the Barrier Reef Pools Class 2 Handicap.
With Jason Taylor in the saddle, Vancity drifted back from the inside barrier to settle near the tail of the field.
The daughter of Vancouver was the second widest entering in the straight and had plenty of work to do but let down powerfully to win by a neat length.
Emotions would have been high for Sheehan watching his mare storm home as it was the first time the Ipswich conditioner had enjoyed the taste of victory as a trainer.
Apprentice Emily Lang has quietly been registering wins at Ipswich this season and added another to her tally on Saturday.
Lang teamed up with the Jennifer Fraser-trained All Stashed Up in the Great Northern Benchmark 60 Handicap over 800m.
Using barrier 1 to advantage, Lang saved ground on the turn to sneak along the rail to dart clear for a length win.
The win took Lang to 12 wins for the season and gave her a share of second place on the Ipswich Jockey Premiership ladder.
Other winners on the day were The Inflictor for Craig Cousins and the Chris Waller-trained Kadavar who was on debut.
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday the 15th of February, which will allow the track to have a short break from recent heavy use.
By Craig Sheppard
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