Ipswich Preview and Selections 28 April 2023

Date: 28-Apr-2023

Friday racing returns to the Ipswich Turf Club this week and we couldn’t be happier about it! Nine races are scheduled to be run and won with the first race jumping at 11:37am.

The track at time at time of publish was rated in the Soft range with the rail out 7m the entire course.

We’ve provided our thoughts and selections on each race below.

Race 1 - 11:37AM FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB Class 4 Plate (800 METRES)

Thawra (3) raced very wide over this course and distance last start but still proved too strong, winning by 1.3 lengths. Mark Currie-trained horses are running through brick walls at the moment and with improved fitness third-up, this girl can go back-to-back.

Mr Galazi (8) led over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast when first-up but was picked off late to finish third. He’ll be fitter second-up and did win a maiden at Eagle Farm last preparation.

Royal Nicci (7) has been down on form for some time but did run a bold race when beaten by a head over this course and distance two starts back. A repeat of that effort would see her threaten.

On Top Selection: Thawra (3)

Race 2 - 12:12PM LABOUR DAY RACES THIS MONDAY QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1100 METRES)

Avone (13) was a well-supported $1.70 favourite when on debut over this course and distance last start. She showed good speed to lead before condition gave out in the final 100m to finish second by half a length. She’ll strip fitter for that run and benefit from the experience. She maps to get a great run on speed from the inside barrier.

Sonny Daze (7) is the most experienced horse in the field. Will be fitter second-up after running on fairly in a Saturday two-year-old race last start. Last preparation he finished second in the Gold Nugget so he has ability.

Texas Fireball (8) is on debut for Matty Dunn. He’s had two trials in readiness for this with the most recent resulting in a close second to Appin Girl who looks to have some ability. Drawn well.

Let’sshowem (11) was very given a solid hit out but was quite green when winning a recent trial in preparation for her debut. Gets the services of Ben Thompson who rode her in the trial and will need all his skills to overcome the tricky gate.

On Top Selection: Avone (13)

Race 3 - 12:47PM RAY WHITE IPSWICH OPEN Handicap (1100 METRES)

Tavisan (1) was found to have suffered heat stress following his last start failure at Eagle Farm. Prior to that he had been racing in good form with an easy win first-up on the Gold Coast Poly before narrowly being beaten at the Sunshine Coast. He’s been given 6 weeks to get over his last run and races particularly well fresh. Jake Molloy who claims 1.5kg can give him a great run on speed from the inside gate.

Acrobatic (3) carries his lightest weight for some time. He’s been close up in stronger races recently and did place here three starts back.

Kavak (5) will take benefit from his first-up eight at Eagle Farm. He’s run well second-up in the past and the blinkers come off which I think is a positive. He’ll appreciate the massive weight drop.

SCR Ovidius (4) has excuses when finishing sixth of eight here last start. The start prior he led over 1200m here and did enough to hang on and win. The 1100m here looks ideal but the outside gate is not.

On Top Selection: Tavisan (1)

Race 4 - 1:22PM GREAT NORTHERN QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1700 METRES)

Cours Vite (2) is a New Zealand visitor trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. He’s finished in the placings at his past two starts over 1600m. Last time out while comfortably held by the winner, he picked up strongly to finish second by two lengths. In a good sign, Jimmy Orman has been booked to ride.

Heroic Instinct (10) should be approaching peak fitness third-up. She’s finished in the placings at both runs this preparation including a 1.5 length third over this course and distance last start. She looks right in this.

American Jazz (1) led over 1660m at Doomben last start and did well to only get run down late when finishing second. Slight query with that run being four weeks ago and the car park draw does not help.

Enolaba (11) has finished in the placings at both starts this preparation. She races well here and will appreciate the rise in distance. She’s drawn wide so will need a good ride from Mark Du Plessis.

On Top Selection: Cours Vite (2)

Race 5 - 1:57PM SCHWEPPES BENCHMARK 65 Handicap (1700 METRES)

Amore Primus (10) was held up last start over 1625m at Toowoomba but did work to the line quite well for a 1.4 length fourth to Zadig. That horse brained them by nearly four lengths at Toowoomba on Wednesday to frank the form. Amore Primus drops in class and should be rock hard fit fourth-up. Will be getting home strong.

Buon Acquisto (7) was held up over this course and distance last start so was unlucky not to win when finishing a head second. He should be close to peak fitness now fourth-up. There looks to be good speed which will aid his cause.

A Big Chance (3) is hard to catch but drops in class and will find this easier than recent Saturday races. He has run well over this course and distance before.

Vyner (4) has finished runner-up in seven of his 19 starts so often runs well but just lacks that knock out punch. He maps to get a nice run.

On Top Selection: Amore Primus (10) each way

Race 6 - 2:34PM SIRROMET RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 Handicap (2190 METRES)

Idling By (9) grinded like a real stayer to the line last start at Warwick over 2000m to just miss the win. That suggests that the rise to 2190m suits and she should be at peak fitness fourth-up. She was jumping 410m last start which adds merit to the run.

Poppy Joan (11) was held up in the straight and it brought her momentum to a stop when finishing fifth by 3.97 lengths over 2070m at Eagle Farm last start. She has a terrible winning strike rate of just one win from 20 starts but does strike her easiest race for some time.

No More Red (7) put his rivals to the sword last start when romping in by 4.8 lengths over 1900m on the Gold Coast Poly. It’s hard to gauge the form there given it’s not uncommon to see horses beaten by half the straight but winning form is good form.

Hot Bananas (10) was beaten a head at Grafton over 1710m last start. Looks ready to take on this extra journey now.

On Top Selection: Idling By (9)

Race 7 - 3:12PM BARRIER REEF POOLS Maiden Plate (1350 METRES)

Sardegna (4) resumes here and is also having his first start for Kelly Schweida after previously racing with Chris Waller. His form last preparation is good enough for this. He looked good winning a recent trial and I’m sure Schweida will have him ready to fire fresh with race plates on. A wide gate is not ideal but he showed early dash in the trial and gets the services of Jimmy Orman.

SCR King Taurus (6) worked to the line strongly for a 2.7 length fourth at the Sunshine Coast on debut. It’s a big jump from 1000m to 1350m but the way he found the line suggests he can do it.

Canuck (10) is a former Tony Gollan-trained mare that’s now with Jake Capewell. She made ground first-up when finishing third over 1200m at Toowoomba. The rise in trip suits second-up.

Jane His Wife (11) resumes here off a trial win. Ran some good races over further last preparation.

On Top Selection: Sardegna (4)

Race 8 - 3:50PM TAB QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1200 METRES)

Money Bear (19) still needs a few more scratchings to gain a start but if he makes the field, he’ll give this a shake. He worked home strongly, clocking the quickest last 200m of the race when finishing 1.6 lengths behind Schmoozer first-up at the Sunshine Coast over 1000m. That was too short for him so the rise to 1200m second-up suits. He improved with each start in his first preparation and looks to have come back a more furnished horse. He’s drawn well.

Cavaup (9) was entitled to throw the towel in first-up over this course and distance after racing three wide the trip. However she knuckled down well to finish fifth to Snow Boum by just 1.3 lengths. That has proven to be a good form race with two subsequent winners. Ashley Morgan can give her the run of the race from the inside gate.

Guru Class (13) finished just in front of Cavaup in that race here last start. She was held up on the fence mid-straight. She’ll be improved second-up and did go close when having her second run back last preparation.

Easy Company (10) was held up badly in the straight last start over 1200m at Doomben and only got clear late to finish a neck second. She should have won. She’ll strip fitter third-up and maps to get a great run.

Ardern (6) worked home strongly on debut to finish a close third over 1200m at Doomben in the Easy Company race. She’ll have come on since that run and should be prominent in the run.

On Top Selection: Money Bear each way if gains a start. Cavaup (9) if Money Bear is scratched.

Race 9 - 4:27PM TAB IPSWICH CUP TICKETS ON SALE Class 1 Handicap (1200 METRES)

Israelite Bay (6) is having her first start for Tony Gollan after previously racing with Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in Victoria. She finished in the placings two and three starts back so looks well placed at this level. She worked home strongly under a hold in a recent trial.

Jukebox Glow (7) will find this easier than last start when finishing fifth to Ekaterina in a Saturday three-year-old race over 1200m at Doomben. She’s since had a tick over trial. She’s drawn well.

Fire Love (12) resumes on the back of two trials. She raced well last preparation with a win on debut before competing well in Saturday three-year-old races. If her fitness is up to the mark, she can challenge.

Simply Venus (9) has been freshened after finishing fourth by 1.4 lengths over 1350m here last start in a stronger race. She has gotten better with racing and continue that progress here.

On Top Selection: Israelite Bay (6)

Best Bets

Race 1 – Thawra (3)

Race 2 – Avone (13)

Race 4 – Cours Vite (2)

By Craig Sheppard

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