Ipswich Selections 2 June 2022

Date: 01-Jun-2022

Ipswich Selections | 2 June 2022

By Craig Sheppard

Eight races are scheduled to be run at Ipswich Turf Club this Thursday. It will be the last time we race before we host the biggest meeting on our calendar, Ipswich Cup day on June 18.

As of Wednesday morning, the track is rated a Heavy 9 but with westerly winds set to continue throughout the day before easing into a fine day on Thursday, the track may get close to being back in the Soft range come race 1. The rail moves out to 10m for the entire course.

Race 1

Speed: Buin Road and Birague look mostly likely to lead at a moderate speed with Tarbena not far away.

Gear Changes: Carlos (3) Blinkers OFF FIRST TIME, Visors FIRST TIME, Tarbena (2) Blinkers OFF FIRST TIME, Cross-over Nose Band FIRST TIME, Norton Bit OFF FIRST TIME, Winkers FIRST TIME

Birague (1) was very good when resuming over 1400m on a Heavy 8 Sunshine Coast. He found the front in the straight but was run down by Da Party Gal. They flogged the rest. He tended to over-race last start when stepping up to 1800m at the Sunshine Coast and finishing 6.4 lengths behind Kiss Me Millo. That was a tougher field than this. He can race on the speed and bounce back here.

Carlos (3) can be forgiven for his last start failure on the Poly. The start prior he uncustomarily led and it nearly proved a masterstroke from Sam Collett as he finished second over 1600m on a Heavy 8 at the Sunshine Coast. Similar tactics here with the visor on may prove advantageous.

Choir Boy (5) attempts this distance for the first time. Rarely runs a bad race having won twice and finished in the placings from ten starts. Was particularly good two starts back when narrowly going down over 1300m.

Saint Martin (8) has been getting better the more he races. Put in his best effort last start when finishing third by 1.2 lengths on the Poly over 1600m. Still a maiden but gets his chance to change that here.

On Top Selection: Birague (1)

Race 2

Speed: A decent tempo should be set with a lot of speed drawn on the outside headed by Delyth. Hot Or Not and Off Road will look to go forward from inside gates.

Gear Changes: Ahika (8) Blinkers FIRST TIME, Cyclone Blackie (12) Blinkers OFF AGAIN, Ear Muffs FIRST TIME, Kabalega (11) Pacifiers OFF FIRST TIME, La Fusee (5) Winkers FIRST TIME, Mickarby (2) Ear Muffs (Pre-Race Only) FIRST TIME, Oso Good (13) Cross-over Nose Band OFF AGAIN, Sprigger (14) Tongue Tie FIRST TIME

Delyth (4) once again draws the outside gate which isn’t ideal. However, she possesses the early speed to cross and take up the running. Last start she drew barrier 11 of 11 at Eagle Farm over 1200m and led until the final 100m when run down by Amathuba. The worst she has been on in three starts is a Soft 5 so there is a question mark over handling the wet track. If she does, then she could prove hard to run down.

Pearls ‘N’ Pimms (6) needed the run here first-up but rattled home over 1200m to nearly win on her home deck at Toowoomba last start. She was bumped at the start and then settled at the tail of the field. Expect Jaden Lloyd to settle closer from barrier 4 and if he does then she’ll be the one they have to hold out in the run home.

Off Road (7) stayed in the gates and came out four-lengths behind them over 1150m here last start. He was scrubbed up a long way from home but finished off strongly for a half-length second. In fact, he has been slow to begin his last three starts which seems to be a habit forming. If he can get back to his old self and get away cleanly, he can feature.

Boom By Boom (1) led when resuming over 1000m at Toowoomba on a heavy track. He boxed on well once tackled with 200m to go to finish third. He’ll be fitter for the run and is super consistent having finished in the placings in six of eight starts. Jasmine Cornish’s 2kg claim is beneficial.

On Top Selection: Delyth (4)

Race 3

Speed: Exempt will look to push forward and hold the lead from the inside gate. Better To Excel and Merron Diva will look to keep it company. Should be just a moderate tempo.

Gear Changes: Emperor's Secret (1) Blinkers FIRST TIME, Shezanuisance (10) Blinkers OFF AGAIN, Ear Muffs AGAIN, Ear Muffs (Pre-Race Only) OFF FIRST TIME, Tamsin (11) Blinkers FIRST TIME, Temple Mistress (15) Tongue Tie OFF FIRST TIME

Better To Excel (13) resumes here following a 27 week spell. Last preparation he raced solidly. On debut he finished 3.3 lengths to Zavaboom over 1000m before racing wide over 800m here at his second start. Will no doubt have matured during the break and the move to the Gollan stable will no doubt have tuned him up.

Skippy (2) is an interesting runner. From the David Vandyke barn with Ryan Maloney booked to ride. That’s a solid push to start. However, he was absolutely belted in his one and only trial last month. Suspect he is much better than than and is drawn to get a great run.

Exempt (7) resumes here following a nine-week spell. She’showed signs of improvement at her last start at the Sunshine Coast over 1000m. She raced outside the lead and gradually faded over the closing 200m. She draws the inside gate here for Angela Jones who claims 1.5kg so should enjoy a great run on the speed.

Super Sweet (4) did very little when finishing 8.8 lengths from the winner at the Gold Coast over 900m on debut. That was in April and she has since looked better in a recent trial. Drawn to get a nice run for Justin Huxtable.

On Top Selection: Better To Excel (13)

Race 4

Speed: It should be fairly willing early with these two-year-olds. Of the raced brigade, Majorelle, Gossip Torque, Princess Marian and Northern Express all will look to go forward.

Gear Changes: The Uprising (6) Blinkers FIRST TIME, Lugging Bit FIRST TIME

All That Pizazz (4) is on debut for Tony Gollan. He won a trial in December before returning in April for another trial. He looked good cruising into second by stablemate Bezique in good time. That horse has since won easily and looked very good in doing so on debut. From barrier 3, Ben Thompson can settle in a handy position.

Majorelle (2) was first past the post when resuming over 1000m on the Poly but had the race taken off him in the stewards room. Prior to that he looked good winning a trial against Honey Pot. Boris Thornton should be able to lead or box seat from barrier 2 which should see him give this a real shake.

Gossip Torque (5) was an impressive winner here over 800m when debuting. He was then sent for a break and returned in the 2YO Inglis Challenge at Scone. It was a bog track that day and after leading, he weakened in the run home. He was found to have poor recovery. Angela Jones who claims 1.5kg can race on the speed but will need to be careful that she doesn’t get posted three-deep.

Blue Spinel (11) worked home strongly to win a 650m Deagon trial in April. She’s on debut here and no doubt Gollan has put her in jump outs since, but it would have been nice to see her over further since that trial. Has the speed to make full use of the inside gate.

Northern Express (1) defeated the older horses easily at Warwick first-up. He then was comprehensively beaten when second to Victory Moments on the Poly. He may not have been comfortable on the surface. The wide gate is a negative here but if can get in then can feature.

On Top Selection: All That Pizazz (4)

Race 5

Speed: King’s Rule will drive forward and try to lead off the inside gate. Pivotal Motion will look to come across and challenge for the lead. The speed should be decent with a couple other horses capable of applying pressure.

Gear Changes: Brave Warrior (2) Blinkers OFF FIRST TIME, Winkers FIRST TIME

Pivotal Motion (3) led and was run down over 1400m on the Poly last start. The start prior he went hard outside the lead over this course and distance and looked the winner in the straight but was picked off late. Both those races were in Class 5 company and he now drops back to a Class 4. He has a great record on rain affected tracks and here at Ipswich. Sam Collett will go forward and can prove hard to catch.

King’s Rule (6) led last start over 1300m at the Sunshine Coast and gave a sight but was ultimately run down to finish third. He defeated Wilmot Pass that day. Three starts back he was run down over here when fourth by just under a length. Pivotal Motion ran second in that race. From the inside gate, he’ll be in this for a long way.

Wilmot Pass (4) improved last start when fighting out the finish over 1300m on a heavy Sunshine Coast track. He was nosed out, finishing second. Jimmy Orman retains the ride and should be able to stalk the speed before launching in the straight.

Petunia (7) capitalised on some good form when finding the line strongly to win last start on the Poly over 1400m. Prior to that she had finished runner-up to Berdini’s Girl and Seleque over this course and distance twice. She’s up in class but could finish over the top of them if the speed is on.

On Top Selection: Pivotal Motion (3)

Race 6

Speed: Expecting there to be good speed here. Never Paid and Devil’s Rite will look to charge forward and cross from outside gates. Princess Bojack and several others can push up from inside gates.

Reliable Ruby (10) was very good when winning narrowly over 1050m at Doomben first-up. She then came here over 1100m and was briefly held up at the top of the straight but powered home to fight out a three-way finish. She was nosed out by Castile who looks a very good horse. She’ll be fitter third-up. Sam Collett can settle just behind what looks a strong speed before letting rip in the straight.

Ourconi (5) ploughed through the heavy conditions last start over 1200m at the Gold Coast. Noel Callow, who retains the ride, went forward and gave nothing else a chance, dashing clear late to win easily. He’s drawn to be in the firing line when it counts.

Count The Coin (3) found the line strongly from the back to just miss at Toowoomba over 1200m last start. He drops in grade here. He won at his only start over this course and distance when resuming this preparation. With the speed on, watch for him hitting the line.

Princess Bojack (6) led over this course and distance last start but was picked off in the closing stages to finish third. That was a return to form for her. She tends to need to lead easily and that won’t be the case here so she could be suspect late.

On Top Selection: Reliable Ruby (10)

Race 7

Speed: Rose By Design looks the likely leader on paper. By By Music and Revellers next in line.

Gear Changes: Revellers (11) Blinkers OFF AGAIN, Voodoo Miss (10) Blinkers FIRST TIME

Sea Palling (3) resumes following a seven-week freshen-up. He’s only a lightly raced four-year-old that hasn’t run a bad race in three starts. He won over 1100m at the Sunshine Coast on debut where he ran on strongly. He then had no luck when fourth over 1400m at Eagle Farm. Last start he stepped up to 1600m and again ran home well to finish second. Back to 1200m here won’t concern him given he’s been freshened. He’s drawn to get a nice run for Tiff Brooker.

Beyond Fate (4) worked home well in the heavy conditions at Scone over 1100m to finish 2.35 lengths fourth. He’ll have taken benefit from that run. Last preparation he ran on from the back to win easily at the Gold Coast when second-up.

Mensa Maestro (2) improved last start when 2.3 lengths second to Burning Bell over 1000m on the Poly. Burning Bell is a very good horse so that’s good form for this. He has a good record over this course and distance having won two of three starts. Les ‘Bubba’ Tilley will need to go forward early to counter the awkward gate.

Voodoo Miss (10) resumes here for David Vandyke after previously racing with Michael Costa. She didn’t do a great deal in a recent trial but have to respect this stable. Last preparation her only win was by a big margin over 1800m which suggests she may need the run fresh.

On Top Selection: Sea Palling (3)

Race 8

Speed: There looks to be limited speed engaged here. Willinga Panache and Bartalumba look most likely to take up the running.

Gear Changes: Port Mourant (10) Blinkers OFF AGAIN

Big Angel (3) looks close to a win after finishing in the placings her past three starts. Last start she hit the front in the straight at Eagle Farm over 1600m but was run down late by Satirical Glory who has since competed in the Group 1 Queensland Derby. Two starts back she finished third to Vitesse Francais and Makedon (won on Monday at Doomben) over 1680m here. Three back she found one better over the same course and distance. The outside gate is not ideal but the lack of speed helps Jimmy Orman’s cause to get across and find a spot.

Willinga Panache (8) has been disappointing on face value this preparation but excuses can be made for both runs. She generally needs a couple of starts each preparation before she finds her best. From the good gate, Kyle Wilson-Taylor will give her every chance.

Top Boy (5) is getting out to a suitable distance range now. Last start he ran on despite playing a role over 1350m here. The former Victorian’s only win came over 1628m at Moe at just his second start. He’ll carry 55.5kg after Dan McGillivray’s claim.

Storm Harbour (2) will find this easier than recent runs. While recent form isn’t flash, he does boast a very good record of three wins and two placings from eight starts over the course and distance.

On Top Selection: Big Angel (3)

Best Bets

Race 6 - Reliable Ruby (10)

Race 8 - Big Angel (3)

Back to list