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Ipswich Preview And Selections 14 January 2023
Date: 13-Jan-2023
There will be something for everybody at Saturday’s Ipswich Turf Club DJ Raceday. Racing fans will be able to sink their teeth into eight races while DJ Bose will have the crowd pumping off the track.
The track should be in the Good range by the time the first race starts with a fine weather forecast. The rail is out 5m the entire course.
We’ve provided our thoughts on each race below.
Race 1 - 12:34PM FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1690 METRES)
Speed: Royal Makeover, Boardie and Tantalum look most likely to lead at a solid tempo.
Gear Changes: Boardie (2) Nose Roll FIRST TIME, Rocked (4) Bandages (Hind) OFF FIRST TIME, Pheeble's Spirit (8) Blinkers FIRST TIME, Winkers OFF FIRST TIME
Royal Makeover (9) has been good in her two career starts to date. Last start she was forced to do extra work after drawing wide but fought on well to finish 1.4 lengths behind Firstluv over 1400m at Eagle Farm. That horse franked the form by finishing second at Doomben on Wednesday. The rise to 1690m third-up looks ideal. Craig Robertson should be able to settle in a forward position.
Joybells (7) was strong through the line when on debut at Beaudesert over 1400m. There will be natural improvement second-up. She’ll appreciate a firmer tracker and the rise in distance.
Excuse Me (6) was set a light over 1800m at the Sunshine Coast last start. The bold tactics nearly paid off with the filly only tiring late and being run for a for a two length fourth. The outside gate is not helpful, but she can go forward.
Zuri Zuri (11) improved last start when finishing 2.5 lengths sixth at the Sunshine Coast over 1400m last start. Draws well here and the extra distance third-up looks suitable.
On Top Selection: Royal Makeover (9)
Race 2 - 1:09PM TAB Maiden Handicap (1690 METRES)
Speed: This race looks devoid of speed so we will see horses going forward that don’t normally.
Gear Changes: Chicago Field (1) Gelded, Stac Pollaidh (4) Cheekers OFF FIRST TIME, Lugging Bit FIRST TIME, Tongue Control Bit OFF FIRST TIME, Karapiro (5) Nose Roll FIRST TIME
Heart Of Marble (10) worked home well to finish third when resuming over 1300m at Toowoomba. It has proven a good form race with winner Hill Billy Flyer winning again at Doomben on Wednesday and Think I’m Ready who was sixth, winning at Kilcoy on Thursday. The rise to 1690m suits second-up.
Caoimhe (6) resumes here. She worked home in a recent trial in preparation for this. When last in work she ran well at the back end of her preparation over 2200m. This could be a touch short for her first-up but she’ll be running on.
Fat Fingers (7) was solid when debuting here for third over 1350m before having excuses last start on her home track. She is only lightly raced and deserves another chance.
Karapiro (5) has done nothing in three career starts. Trainer Adam Campton knows what he is doing and is applying a nose roll for this race to an attempt to turn this horse’s fortunes around. Recently won a trial and gets the benefit of barrier 1.
On Top Selection: Heart Of Marble (10)
Race 3 - 1:44PM WWW.IEEC.COM.AU QTIS Three-Year-Old BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Speed: Greylander should be able to lead off the inside gate at a genuine tempo with Goldeeluck not too far away.
Greylander (3) was thrown in the deep end by Tony Gollan last and unfortunately the stylish grey gelding didn’t aim up. He’ll appreciate racing in this class. Two starts back Greylander gave the opposition a spanking to lead all the way over 1400m at Eagle Farm to break his maiden status. From the inside gate, Angela Jones can lead and prove hard to run down.
Hyde (1) powered home to win at the Gold Coast two starts back. Last start he looked the winner over 1500m here only to picked off in the shadows of the post. The drop back to this distance is a plus.
Porky (6) took advantage of a good tempo to charge home and win at Eagle Farm over 1400m last start. If they go too hard in front then he’ll be able to take advantage.
The Vowels (2) worked home strongly to win last start over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast by two lengths. He’s building a nice record and will be fitter third-up.
On Top Selection: Greylander (3)
Race 4 - 2:19PM IEEC OPEN EVENING 2 FEBRUARY RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Speed: There should be good speed here with Fire Kirin, Albert’s In Charge and Boom Ranga all looking to work across from wide gates.
Gear Changes: Little Vista (3) Bandages (Front) OFF FIRST TIME, Albert's In Charge (9) Tongue Tie AGAIN
Art Heist (1) has come back this preparation in great order. Following a half-length second at the Gold Coast first-up, he showed an impressive turn of foot after having to check off hooves to win at Beaudesert. The rise to 1200m looks ideal third-up. Craig Robertson should be able to give him a great run from barrier 4.
Start Strutting (5) was caught wide when resuming here over 1100m. Despite that he worked home well. He’ll be fiter second-up.
Alfa Lily (13) was good when returning to racing last start at Toowoomba. Rarely runs a bad race and has a good record over this distance.
Herecum Da Drums (11) is a veteran galloper that mixes his form. He ran well last start to finish second at Ballina. That followed several below-par efforts. He gets his chance from the good gate.
On Top Selection: Art Heist (1)
Race 5 - 3:05PM GREAT NORTHERN BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1100 METRES)
Speed: Top Bird looks the likely leader in a genuinely run race.
Gear Changes: Rose By Design (10) Blinkers FIRST TIME, Winkers OFF FIRST TIME
Kudu (2) resumes here following an 18-week spell. He looked good working to the line under his own steam in a recent trial, so the signs are there that he’s ready to go first-up. Last preparation he competed well in stronger class races than this. He has a good record at Ipswich and should enjoy a sweet run from the inside gate for Jake Molloy who claims 1.5kg.
Deepour (8) has raced in good form since joining Adam Campton. He ran well first-up before working to the line strongly to win last start at the Sunshine Coast over 1000m. He’ll be fitter third-up and I suspect he can settle closer from a nice gate and with a slightly longer trip.
Dark Horse (6) rarely runs a bad race. He was hammered in betting last start here over 1200m but was gunned down late. There was a big gap to third. He’s drawn a touch sticky but is never far away.
Northuldra (9) just keeps winning. She’s won her past three starts but this is her stiffest test. She rises in class and will need a 10 out of 10 ride from Ryan Wiggins after drawing and outside gate.
On Top Selection: Kudu (2)
Race 6 - 3:50PM LORRAE'S 40TH BIRTHDAY BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (1690 METRES)
Speed: Dis Go Boom can lead but may get company from several others which should see the speed at least being genuine.
Raging Pole (2) will appreciate coming back to this level of opposition. Last start over 1825m at Eagle Farm he worked early to sit outside the lead and was in contention but was squeezed in the straight which took away any chance he had. He races well at Ipswich. The last time he was here he was only narrowly beaten in Class 6 company. Looks right in this with Angela Jones in the saddle.
Ruby’s Lad (1) came from the back of the field to storm home and win easily at Toowoomba over 1640m last start. He’s racing well and the 3kg claim helps but barrier 1 may not be the best place for him given he could be pinned away on the fence and unable to get out. If he does, he’ll be hitting the line hard.
Flying Rothe (4) was an easy winner over this course and distance two starts back. This is tougher and he can mix his form, but he draws to advantage.
Impel Gazelle (5) was disappointing when resuming here last start. In fact, stewards queried the performance. I’m expecting an improved showing given he won his only other second-up start and comes from the astute Vandyke stable.
On Top Selection: Raging Pole (2)
Race 7 - 4:29PM THE BARN FAMILY RESTAURANT RATINGS BAND 0 - 60 Handicap (1690 METRES)
Speed: Grinzinger Knight should be able to lead this race comfortably.
Gear Changes: Storm Attack (2) Tongue Tie AGAIN, Grinzinger Knight (3) Cross-over Nose Band FIRST TIME, Magic Mikey (8) Bubble Cheeker (Off Side) FIRST TIME, Forbidden One (12) Blinkers FIRST TIME, Lugging Bit FIRST TIME, Standard Bit OFF FIRST TIME, Winkers OFF FIRST TIME, Cleary Adonis (13) Blinkers OFF FIRST TIME
Forbidden One (12) had a number of excuses last start when disappointing at the Sunshine Coast over 1600m. The start prior she ran well for second over this course and distance. Paul Duncan has applied several gear changes that should be beneficial to her putting her best hoof forward.
Harbelle (9) has been improving with each run this preparation. Last start she didn’t get clear until the concluding stages and went to the line largely untested. Expecting her to be right in the finish.
Pernell (4) had put several good runs in prior to finishing down the track last start. Has the ability to figure in the finish. This is Danny Peisley’s only ride at the meeting.
Grinzinger Knight (3) has been disappointing since winning by half the straight at Lismore four starts ago. If he can dictate the speed then he could steal the race. Needs to improve though.
On Top Selection: Forbidden One (12)
Race 8 - 5:04PM SIRROMET BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Speed: There looks to be good speed here with Pivotal Motion and What The Fuss looking to lead.
Gear Changes: Checkers (6) Blinkers FIRST TIME
Charge On (7) looks to have settled into Adam Campton’s stable well after previously racing in Hong Kong. He gave too much start when finishing a close second at the Gold Coast two starts back. Last start he finished powerfully to win well over 1200m here. The rise to 1350m looks ideal now. He drops in weight and should be rocketing to the line.
Pivotal Motion (2) will appreciate dropping in class. He was outclassed last start in town after going close to winning here in Open company. Always gives himself a chance by racing on the speed. He has a good relationship with jockey Sam Collett.
Most Dazzling (9) gave them too much start when resuming at Toowoomba. He will be fitter second-up and has a good record at Ipswich. Drawn to advantage.
Brook Hill (5) hasn’t been too far away after winning four starts back. This is a rise in class but he maps well.
On Top Selection: Charge On (7)
Best Bets
Race 3 – Greylander (3)
Race 4 – Art Heist (1)
Race 8 – Charge On (7)
By Craig Sheppard
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