Ipswich Preview – Monday 1 April 2023 New

Date: 01-Apr-2024

This is no April Fool’s Day joke; Easter racing comes to Ipswich this Monday!

Seven races are scheduled to be run and won on a sunny public holiday.

While the kids will be on the hunt for Easter eggs around the track, we’re helping the adults treat themselves to hopefully a few winners below.

Race 1 - 1:13PM HAPPY EASTER FROM THE ITC Maiden Plate (2150 METRES)

5 Subaqua

Subaqua cost himself victory last start over 2000m at Toowoomba.

The Bevan Laming-trained three-year-old gelding settled back and was running on strongly but wanted to lay in badly.

Michael Hellyer had to stop riding to correct him before he picked up strongly late to finish second by a nose.

He’ll strip fitter third-up and maps to get a great run in a race lacking speed.

Selections: 5-9-7-2

Race 2 - 1:48PM BUY TICKETS FOR MOTHERS DAY BREAKFAST QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (800 METRES)

5 Toro Strike

Toro Strike is on debut for the Stu Kendrick stable.

The son of Toronado trialed well behind Kahlisee in December before being spelled and gelded.

The procedure has had a positive effect with him showing a clean set of hooves to lead all the way to easily win a Sunshine Coast trial in heavy conditions.

He’s drawn well in barrier 3 so should enjoy a nice run on speed for Jimmy Byrne.

Selections: 5-6-1-2

Race 3 - 2:23PM TAB Class 1 Handicap (800 METRES)

5 Evelyn’s Joy

Evelyn’s Joy started her racing career on the right note with a strong win over this course and distance.

The Billy Healey-trained daughter of Rubick used barrier 1 to advantage to drive through and lead over this scamper trip before proving far too fast in the run home before being eased down late to win by 2.8 lengths.

She’s been kept fresh for this and again will start from the inside gate so she should be able to hold the fence and be hard to run down.

Selections: 5-3-4-2

Race 4 - 3:02PM SCHWEPPES Maiden Handicap (1350 METRES)

4 Salamancas

Salamancas resumes here following an 18-week break.

The David Vandyke-trained three-year-old gelding was last seen running on strongly to miss the win by just a neck over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast.

He’s warmed up for this with two trials with the most recent proving to be a nice piece of work over 1200m at Deagon where Jimmy Orman rode him under double wraps.

With a bit of luck from the sticky gate, he should be fighting out the finish.

Selections: 4-13-18-3

Race 5 - 3:42PM GREAT NORTHERN BENCHMARK 60 Handicap (1666 METRES)

8 Who Ordered Dafish

I’m putting a line through Who Ordered Dafish’s last start run where she finished 21.9 lengths behind the winner after being severely impeded by a riderless horse.

Before that, the Kevin Kemp-trained gelding was in good form and looked close to a win.

Two starts back he worked home strongly over 1400m at Eagle Farm to finish a neck second Miliarense who got all the favours in front.

The way he ran through the line that day suggested that this distance is ideal.

In a race with limited speed, he should settle handy for Cejay Graham.

Selections: 8-2-3-14

Race 6 - 4:22PM SEVEN NEWS Class 4 Handicap (1100 METRES)

2 Xpresso

Xpresso is a new addition to the David Vandyke stable who resumes here.

The five-year-old gelding brings good Sydney form in significantly stronger races including a head second over this trip at Randwick two starts ago.

He looked very good in a recent trial win over 1200m at Deagon where he went to the front and cruised around for a 2.8 length win.

The speed looks genuine, but he should be able to cross and find a prominent position for Jimmy Orman.

Selections: 2-3-1-4

Race 7 - 5:02PM TAB IPSWICH CUP ON SALE BENCHMARK 62 Handicap (1350 METRES)

4 Sian Star

I’m happy to side once again with Sian Star who absolutely loves this course and distance.

The Darryl Hansen-trained son of Star Turn won two races in impressive fashion over the Ipswich 1350m two and three starts back before going very close last start.

He sat outside the lead and gave a big kick at the top of the straight but was picked off in the shadows of the post to finish a head second with third nearly three lengths away.

As has been the case in his past three starts here he draws sticky, but he’ll have the services of Boris Thornton to navigate.

Selections: 4-3-8-11

By Craig Sheppard

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