2023 TAB Ipswich Cup Meeting In Review

Date: 19-Jun-2023

By Craig Sheppard

With another TAB Ipswich Cup Day done and dusted, it can safely be said that the 2023 edition of the iconic meeting was a resounding success.

A beautiful winter day provided the perfect backdrop for a strong crowd of nearly 14,000 people to revel at Ipswich’s favourite social event.

The action on the track was just as exciting, headlined by local lad Jake Bayliss winning the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic. Sean Tou and his track team should be congratulated for providing an excellent racing surface.

Ipswich Hoop’s Emotional Win

The Bayliss name is synonymous with racing in Ipswich. The family have a proud history of involvement and success at the Bundamba circuit dating back over 50 years.

A new chapter was etched into the history book on Saturday when jockey Jake Bayliss rode Chassis to victory in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic.

Born and bred in Ipswich, Bayliss has yearned to win his hometown cup. While he finished towards the back of the pack on Rousseau in this year’s Ipswich Cup, his mood would turn from sombre to ecstatic by the end of the day.

Partnering the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Chassis in the final race of the meeting, the Listed Kingsley Lawson Lawyers Gai Waterhouse Classic, Bayliss made full use of an inside gate to drive forward and take up a prominent position.

With leader Better Get Set drifting slightly off the fence, Bayliss capitalised to drive through with a furlong to go and power to the line for a length victory.

As they passed the winning post, an emotional Bayliss gave a salute to the crowd for the ages.

“Today started off very dour,” Bayliss said.

“I knew it was going to improve the further we got into today (Saturday) as my rides were a bit more quality.

“It was a bit unfortunate in the Eye Liner when I was held up a little bit on Blaze A Trail and only got out when it was too late.

“I took bad luck out of the equation (in the Gai Waterhouse Classic), used the gate and put her in the box seat.

“The leader gave a nice kick and rolled off the fence...she really attacked the line.

“In these high-pressure races on this sort of track, if you don’t use your gate early and put yourself there, next thing you know you’re four or five back on the fence.

“I really had to use the gate and put her there. She probably wasn’t travelling to be in there, but she stuck at it nicely.”

Bayliss has ridden in Victoria, New Zealand and Singapore and won Group 1 races but Saturday’s black-type win on his home track meant a lot more to him.

“I lost my grandparents, my grandmother six to eight months ago and my grandfather two years ago, both were life members at the club.

“Col Bayliss, my great grandfather, was a life member and my aunty Sharon was a clerk of the course here for twenty-something years.

“I grew up riding trackwork here and learned all the basics before I was sent to Melbourne by Dad (Jamie).

“He was a well-respected trainer and won the Ipswich Cup in 1989 on Dixie Kid.

“It probably wasn’t the one I wanted to win, obviously the hype was for the Ipswich Cup, but I’m just going to take it all aboard.”

Thompson Completes ‘Ipswich Big Three’ With Cup Win

In 2021, jockey Ben Thompson won the Listed Eye Liner Stakes aboard Snitch and the Gai Waterhouse Classic with Lillemor.

On Saturday he added the Listed TAB Ipswich Cup to his trophy cabinet and in doing so completed the ‘Ipswich Big Three’ of feature wins.

The popular hoop teamed up with the Annabel Neasham-trained Regal Lion in the time-honoured feature.

Thompson was able to settle his mount in a midfield position from barrier 10, allowing him to settle into his rhythm as they passed the winning post for the first time.

The winning move was made when Thompson pulled Regal Lion out on the turn and proceeded to advance around the field. By the time they hit the straight, the son of Jakkalberry had drawn level with the leaders.

Regal Lion and Desert Icon paired off with 200m to go for a ding dong battle but it was the Neasham runner with the lighter weight that would prevail.

“He’s got a good second-up record and he was going to be much more at home over 2000m,” Thompson said.

“Given the way the track was playing, it was going to suit a horse like him who is going to work into the race down the middle of the track.

“There was nice give in the ground and it worked out perfectly.

“I tried to keep him trotting around and keep him moving before the start with the blinkers back on today (Saturday) and he jumped away great.

“We were worse than midfield following London Banker. They sort of steadied up at the 900m so I just popped out three wide just to keep him in a nice rhythm.

“He straightened up and I thought this is his race to lose.

“It was awesome and obviously really special to win the Ipswich Cup.”

Priced a $21 chance by the market, the four-year-old gelding was considered the second option for Neasham with punters gravitating to Group 1 winning stablemate Numerian.

Assistant Trainer Todd Pollard indicated that while punters didn’t give Regal Lion much, those in the stable did.

“Both horses had great rides,” Pollard said.

“I thought Jag (Guthmann-Chester) rode Numerian to perfection, but the quick back-up didn’t quite work for the horse.

“Ben Thompson put Regal Lion into the race early with the blinkers on and he just knew when to pounce, he was tough at the finish.

“He’s a true dour Kiwi who takes a bit to get going. A few of the staff at home were quite confident he could upset Numerian as they knew how well he was going in his work.

“His course proper gallop on Tuesday was very sharp with the blinkers on so it definitely worked.

“There’s plenty of upside with the horse and he’ll go on to the Caloundra Cup now.”

Earlier in the day, Thompson gave a ten out of ten ride on the Kelly Schweida-trained Sailor’s Secret to win the Ray White Ipswich No Metro Wins Handicap over 1350m.

Lady Of Honour Prevails In Heavyweight Eye Liner Battle

The red of Holden versus the blue of Ford is a rivalry the people of Ipswich have embraced for decades.

On Saturday they were treated to another fierce horsepower rivalry. This time it was powerhouses Coolmore and Godolphin duking it out in the Listed City Of Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes.

Wearing the navy of Coolmore, the Ben and JD Hayes-trained Lady Of Honour had her work cut out having to start from the extreme outside gate in the field of 16.

With Andrew Mallyon in the saddle, she worked early to settle second in the run. It took some time, but she was able to cross and find a spot. The Godolphin-owned Gravina was not so lucky, posted three-deep trailing Lady Of Honour.

The pair settled down to fight it out in the run home. While Gravina was brave, her wide run told and Lady Of Honour was able to hold on for a nose win, delivering Coolmore bragging rights.

Stable Representative Sarah Fannin who also rides Lady Of Honour in her trackwork, was thrilled that the four-year-old mare was able to win her second black-type race.

“It was fantastic,” Fannin said.

“She’s been great the whole time she’s been in Queensland so it’s just brilliant for her to get the win and great for Coolmore as well.

“She’s a beautiful, big mare. She’s been with us her whole life and we’ve loved having her the whole time.

“We were confident. She was dropping back in class and her work had been super, so we were confident today (Saturday).

“It’s just a great thrill!

“That’s her favourite role to be out in front doing it how she likes it. It was a great ride by Andrew as well.”

Fannin indicated prior to Saturday’s win, they planned to take Lady Of Honour home but they will now see how she pulls up before making a final decision.

Exciting Times Ahead For Deepour

Several horses in recent times have used the Ipswich Cup meeting as a springboard to bigger and better things. Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise is the best example of that.

On Saturday we witnessed something special when Deepour demoralised his rivals to win the River 94.9FM Class 6 Handicap over 1100m.

The Adam Campton-trained five-year-old gelding faced a stiff task after drawing the outside gate in the field of 11. However, a strong tempo played into his hands.

Queensland’s leading jockey Jimmy Orman settled slightly worse than midfield allowing the leaders to cut at each in front.

Deepour had plenty of work to do as they headed for home. Orman got his mount to the outside but was still six lengths off them at the top of the straight.

The impressive looking son of Exosphere let down powerfully to put them away within the blink of an eye. He showed a devastating turn of foot, racing away for a 2.8 length win.

“That was awesome,” Campton said.

“I was pretty confident coming here today (Saturday) but the barrier turned me off.

“That’s why you put the best on them and Jimmy rode him an absolute treat.

“I had a bit of a smirk when I saw him get to the outside. Jimmy gave him the one-two, clickclick.

“I was happy with the tempo and I was happy that he got it done again today.”

The win was Deepour’s sixth in his 14 start career and has the Gold Coast trainer dreaming big.

“We just have to take it each race at a time,” Campton said.

“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself but obviously the Ramornie Handicap is probably next.

“I’ll just see how he pulls up first.

“I think it’s a good race for him and in time I’d like to see down the straight in Melbourne.

“He just has that electric turn of foot. He’s versatile.

“He’s just a beautiful animal and I’m excited for the future.”