Meeting In Review – Thursday 9 November 2023

Date: 10-Nov-2023

Seven races were run and won at Ipswich on Thursday, where the Annabel Neasham stable and jockey Damien Thornton shared best on ground honours by combining for a winning double.

Thornton regularly rides for Neasham with the partnership having enjoyed numerous successes together.

They teamed up in the TAB QTIS Three-Years-Old Maiden Plate with the short-priced favourite Zimo.

The son of Written By was racing for the first time since the Winter Carnival where he competed in much stronger races.

Despite not handling the home turn his class shone through, and he proved too strong in the closing stages to register a head win in the 1350m contest.

Neasham and Thornton celebrated their second win of the day together with Sleigh Queen in the BNB DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Fillies and Mares BM65 Handicap.

The four-year-old mare was second-up following a good effort at the Sunshine Coast.

Thornton gave the $3.80 favourite a peach of a ride before the mare let down powerfully in the straight to win by a long neck.

Neasham’s winning double took her tally of Ipswich winners this season to six and provided her a share of top spot on the 2023/24 Ipswich Trainers Premiership with seven-time victor Tony Gollan.

While Chakra Boy couldn’t repeat his heroics from two weeks ago, his trainer Sharryn Livingstone once again found herself in the Ipswich winner's stall.

This time the Deagon horsewoman enjoyed the spoils with one of the stable’s favourites Mighty Judd who was returning from a seven-month layoff.

Ridden by his namesake, Justin ‘Judd’ Stanley, the four-year-old gelding led all the way in the 1350m event to break his maiden status at start number nine.

Female trainers led the way at Thursday’s meeting combining for five of the seven wins available.

Collecting winner’s cheques along with Neasham and Livingstone were Michelle Labahn with Tea Leaves and Helen Page with Mixed Spice.

Five-year-old Tea Leaves with apprentice Jai Williams in the saddle proved too strong in a three-way go in the opening race of the day over 1675m.

In the PRECINCT URBAN PLANNING Class 1 Handicap which closed the program, Mixed Spice was facing the starter for the first time since finishing fourth in the Bundamba Plate on Ipswich Cup Day.

She was given an excellent ride by Taylor Marshall to hold off the late challenge of Pacific Atlantic and claim the win.

Page’s three-year-old filly defied a betting drift that saw here move out from $8.50 to $14.

Ben Thompson reduced Jimmy Orman’s lead in the Ipswich Jockey Premiership to three when he expertly guided the Jack Bruce-trained Hotstep along the fence to claim the SAMMUT BULOW Colts, Geldings and Entires BM65 Handicap.

The winning ride was one of the best of the day with the popular hoop never going around a horse.

The club will host our next meeting in our preferred Friday timeslot on October 17.

By Craig Sheppard

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