Ipswich Preview – Friday 5 July 2024

Date: 05-Jul-2024

Racing returns to Ipswich this Friday for the first time since Ipswich Cup Day.

Eight races are scheduled to be run and won on an improving track with the rail out 4m the entire course.

We’ve provided our top selections for each race below.

Race 1 - 12:07PM IPSWICH EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE Maiden Plate (2170 METRES)

1 Brave Deel

Former Victorian galloper Brave Deel has settled in well at Christos Zintilis’ Deagon stable. The son of Dundeel ran well two starts back to finish 2.8 lengths second on the unsuitably tight Kilcoy circuit. Last start he found the line powerfully over 2040m at Doomben for a 2.3 length second. This race looks no tougher and he gets the services of Justin Huxtable who is riding in great form.

Selections: 1-2-9-8

Race 2 - 12:42PM GREAT NORTHERN QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1200 METRES)

10 – Ocean Proud

Ocean Proud looked good winning a Warwick Farm trial ahead of her debut over 900m at Newcastle. Unfortunately, the market was rightly against the Ciaron Maher-trained filly as she failed to handle the heavy conditions. While it won’t be a good surface today, it will certainly be drier than what she faced last start and I’m expecting her to bounce back against this level of opposition.

Selections: 10-2-1-11

Race 3 - 1:17PM RAY WHITE IPSWICH QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1200 METRES)

1 Caspernova

The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding brings the right form lines to this race and looks ready to break his maiden status. Two starts back when resuming over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast, he chased home Navyonthehighway to finish second by two lengths. That’s proving to be good form with two subsequent winners coming from that race and Wednesday’s impressive winner Battlefield coming from Navyonthehighway’s next race. Caspernova went within a head of winning last start over 1200m at Doomben. That race has also produced two subsequent winners. He’s drawn out but the field has dropped away with scratchings and he should be close to peak fitness.

Selections: 1-3-5-12

Race 4 - 1:57PM SCHWEPPES Class 5 Handicap (1200 METRES)

4 Last Chance Saloon

Last Chance Saloon resumes here and has raced well fresh in the past. The David Vandyke-trained son of Maurice has had two trials in preparation for this first-up assignment. The most recent saw him cruise to the line under a tight hold to finish a close second to Rockribbed. That horse won impressively on Ipswich Cup Day as did Wollombi who was also in the trial. He has a great record over this distance, having won both his starts.

Selections: 4-7-1-9

Race 5 - 2:34PM TAB Maiden Handicap (1350 METRES)

1 Pickaxe

Pickaxe was forced to settle a long way back after drawing an outside gate when resuming for new trainer Stu Kendrick last start. The Pierro gelding worked to the line well to finish fourth by 3.2 lengths over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast. He’ll strip fitter second-up and the rise in distance suits. His form in Victoria reads well for a race like this. Cody Collis, who claims 1.5kg, can settle closer in the run from barrier 1.

Selections: 1-2-12-5

Race 6 - 3:12PM THE SURE THING BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (1350 METRES)

10 – Casrock

Casrock will appreciate the drop in class after settling back and finding the line strongly over 1350m at Doomben last start to finish 2.5 lengths fifth. The Kelly Schweida-trained mare races particularly well at Ipswich and won over this course and distance two starts ago. That followed a 1.3 length second, again over the Ipswich 1350m. Eye Liner Stakes winning jockey Cejay Graham can give her mount a lovely run from barrier 3.

Selections: 10-11-4-8

Race 7 - 3:50PM IMPERIAL RACING Class 1 Plate (1100 METRES)

13 Rose Noir

You can put a line through the run of Rose Noir last start in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes. The Tony Gollan-trained filly drew barrier 15 of 15 and raced three deep on speed so understandably capitulated in the straight. The start prior when resuming over 1100m here she was again trapped wide, but this time she was able to fight to the line to finish a half-length second. She’ll strip fitter third-up and draws to get a great run.

Selections: 13-1-3-6

Race 8 - 4:27PM SEVEN NEWS Class 2 Handicap (1680 METRES)

5 Ashfall

Ashfall ran well when having his first start for Stu Kendrick after previously racing with Chris Waller in Sydney. The three-year-old son of The Autumn Sun was held up until about 150m to go over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast but let down well once clear to finish 1.9 lengths fifth. He’ll have come on since that race and his one win came when having his only previous second-up race. The rise in distance suits and Michael Rodd in the saddle is a plus.

Selections: 5-7-3-12

Best Bets

Race 1 – 1 Brave Deel

Race 3 – 1 Caspernova

Race 5 – 1 Pickaxe

By Craig Sheppard

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