Ipswich Preview – Wednesday 14 August 2024

Date: 13-Aug-2024

Metropolitan racing comes to Ipswich this Wednesday where eight races are scheduled to be conducted.

Unfortunately, plenty of rain has been forecast this week so racing will take place on a very heavy surface.

We’ve studied the form with an eye for mud larks and provided our findings below.

Race 1 - 12:33PM BARRIER REEF POOLS QTIS Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Maiden Handicap (1200 METRES)

2 Bard Of Avon

Bard Of Avon makes his debut here and finds himself in a winnable race to kick start his career.

The Barry Lockwood-trained son of Written By has had just the one public trial where he cruised around to win over 650m.

While I would prefer that the trial was over further, you must respect that astute Lockwood and I’d suggest that given that was a month ago, he’s have at least another jump out.

From the low draw, Kyle Wilson-Taylor can settle in a forward position.

Selections: 2-4-1-3

Race 2 - 1:08PM GORDON'S GIN QTIS Three-Year-Old Fillies Maiden Handicap (1200 METRES)

3 Just Precious

In an open race, I'm going with the debutante Just Precious (3) who was scratched from Saturday’s Sunshine Coast meeting in favour of this contest.

The Stu Kendrick-trained daughter of Justify caught the eye in a recent Sunshine Coast trial over 850m.

While she was slow away and settled back, she let down powerfully under her own steam to finish a length second.

Cody Collis’ 3kg claim comes in very handy.

Selections: 3-5-9-1

Race 3 - 1:43PM SEVEN NEWS Class 3 Handicap (1666 METRES)

2 Dazzling Robert

Dazzling Robert grows a leg in the wet so he should enjoy the conditions here.

The Owen Glue-trained son of Red Dazzler proved that three starts back when getting to the outside on a heavy Ballina and letting down powerfully to win over 1350m easily by 2.5 lengths.

Last start he stormed home to get up in the shadows of the post over 1526m at Lismore.

He rises in class but he’s racing in great heart and the rain-affected track brings him right into it.

Selections: 2-3-5-1

Race 4 - 2:18PM IMPERIAL RACING Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)

3 Lantau Island

Lantau Island followed up two good trial wins with a solid performance on debut as a hot favourite.

The Tony Gollan-trained son of Star Turn led comfortably over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast but switched off in the straight until he was challenged, at which point the others ran past him.

To his credit, he fought back to finish a head second.

He’ll strip fitter second-up and in a positive move blinkers go on for the first time which will keep his mind on the job.

Selections: 3-5-1-7

Race 5 - 2:53PM RDO EQUIPMENT BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (1200 METRES)

6 Real Rush

Real Rush returned in super order over 1200m at Doomben last start.

The Matt Hoysted-trained mare led them a merry dance from start to finish, winning by 1.8 lengths.

She’ll have come on since that run and will appreciate Cody Collis’ 3kg claim.

While she hasn’t raced on a heavy track, she did win a trial by five lengths.

Selections: 6-4-9-10

Race 6 - 3:28PM LIVING TURF Class 3 Plate (1100 METRES)

1 Addriel

Addriel returns to Ipswich looking to keep his unbeaten three race record at the track intact.

The Neasham & Archibald-trained gelding resumed this preparation in fine style when he made short work of the heavy conditions to win by a length over 1200m.

He then went to town and gave a good account of himself when finishing 3.2 lengths fourth to the talented Invincible Shield.

He’ll strip fitter third-up and did win his only previous start over this course and distance by 4.5 lengths.

Selections: 1-4-7-8

Race 7 - 4:03PM THE SHED COMPANY IPSWICH BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (1666 METRES)

2 Diablo Bolt

Diablo Bolt drops back in distance after finding 2020m in a Saturday metropolitan race a touch beyond him last start.

The Neasham & Archibald-trained son of Hellbent enjoyed the heavy conditions at the Sunshine Coast two starts back when charging home to win by 2.3 lengths over 1800m.

He won his only previous start over this course and distance which was four starts ago.

Cody Collis, who claims 3kg, can give him a lovely run from barrier 2.

Selections: 2-5-6-1

Race 8 - 4:38PM VINCE INSURANCE Class 1 Handicap (1350 METRES)

4 Reggae Fire

Reggae Fire enjoyed his first race in Queensland when winning by a nose over this course and distance last start.

The Chris Waller-trained gelding brought decent New South Wales form with him, finishing second at Newcastle first-up before having genuine excuses in his subsequent two races.

This race is wide open, and I’m not sold on him handling a heavy track, but he’ll have come on since his last start win and maps to get a lovely run for Jimmy Orman.

Selections: 4-13-14-3

Best Bets

Race 4 – Lantau Island (3)

Race 5 – Real Rush (6)

By Craig Sheppard

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