Ipswich Preview - 29 February 2024

Date: 28-Feb-2024

Ipswich hosts a nine-race provincial card on Thursday on a card that looks to be a good betting one, with multiple chances in most races.

Ryan Maloney ventures to the track for a number of key rides on Thursday.

Maloney is an infrequent visitor to Ipswich, but when he does make the trip, he generally makes the most of it.

Maloney is striking at 24% at Ipswich from just 55 rides since January last year.

Drill down a bit further and we find he is striking at 45% on favourites and 28% on second favourites, or a combined 38% on horses in the first two in the market.

Backing all of those runners is returning a healthy 24% profit on turnover at level stakes.

Maloney has a number of key rides at this meeting, starting with Googaz in the second event on the card. The Olivia Cairns trained gelding is enjoying a consistent preparation, with two wins and three second placings from six starts this time in. The last start second at Doomben to Motell (placed in Saturday grade since) reads well for this race.

The next key runner for Maloney is Quade, for the Tony Gollan stable. Quade was a beaten favourite first up in Toowoomba, but gave the impression he’s looking for 1200m and he gets that here. He’s been a beaten favourite in his past three runs, but finds a race with good speed and Maloney will be able to time his run and give him every chance to atone.

Maloney then teams up with David Vandyke to ride Ready To Pardon, who was a eye-catcher first up at Gatton when eating into the margin of the winner Five Star Vixen over 1100m. Vandyke steps him straight to 1350m here and he should enjoy a lovely run up near the speed and get every chance to break his maiden status.

Maloney’s other ride is Martedi for Gary Doughty. This horse looked a touch disappointing here last time, but was stepping up from 1200m to 1680m, so should be fitter for that run.

The local trainers have been enjoying a good run on their home track in recent weeks and look to have another solid hand at this meeting.

Beau Gorman is striking at 20% from his last 50 runners and has Final Ullusionist and Biz Class trying to build on that record in Race 8.

Final Illusionist comes back in grade after striking a hot race at Eagle Farm first up, while Biz Class will sit on speed and give a big sight again.

Trevor Lambourn has Heiress in the same race, coming off an easy win over 1100m here last time out at $1.40. This filly is improving with every run. She has to come back to 800m now, but she’s going to be strong at the end.

Lambourn also has Original Glaze dropping back in grade after giving a big sight in town last start. The four-year-old mare, who races in the Imperial Racing colours, was a dominant winner at this track and distance two starts back.

It’s a solid Open Handicap that has been put together for this card, to be run over 1350m.

Rejoiced looks the one to beat off his close up last start effort behind Millane and Plundering at Eagle Farm earlier this month.

The Pat Webster trained gelding is trying to break a frustrating sequence of minor placings at Ipswich, having been here three times for three minor placings.

Though it’s not a big field, there is some depth to the betting, with Don’t Stop, Hot Spring Gold and Baanone all coming off forgive runs in a stronger race at Doomben behind Never No More.

And the Greg Cornish trained Stampe could play his part too. He steps back up in trip here and might be nuisance value for Rejoiced up front in this race.

Roll Up is looking to keep his perfect Ipswich record intact when James Orman rides for Kelly Schweida in Race 6 on the card.

Roll Up is three from three around Ipswich, with his most recent start here resulting in a three lengths win last August.

He was well backed to win in town last time in the Millane race and will appreciate the drop in grade here.

Selections:

Quade, Race 5 #6

Roll Up, Race 6 #1

Ready To Pardon, Race 7 #3

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