Ipswich Selections – Saturday 16 March 2024

Date: 15-Mar-2024

We’ll be hoping that the luck of the Irish is with us this Saturday as we host an eight-race St Patrick’s Day meeting.

The weather is fine, the rail is in the true position and the track is rated a Good 4...conditions don’t get much better than that!

We’re wearing green, found a four-leaf clover and have hung a horseshoe over the office door to bring us luck with our preview below.

Race 1 - 12:29PM JOHN RYAN FREIGHT MANAGEMENT QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1350 METRES)

14 The Author

It would be nice to have a crystal ball to know what Kevin Kemp is thinking regarding where he will race The Author given, she’s accepted both here and on her home deck of Toowoomba.

However, at time of writing she is still in this race, so I’ll go her way given she looks the logical choice.

The daughter of Written By has finished runner-up in her past three starts including last start over this course and distance where she raced wide but still only went down by a nose.

She’s drawn a touch sticky but has the early speed to overcome the wide gate.

Selections: 14-11-13-12

Race 2 - 1:04PM KO THOROUGHBRED RACING BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1350 METRES)

5 Prepotent

One thing you can be certain of is that co-trainers Corey and Kylie Geran will have Prepotent in A1 condition to win for the team at KO Thoroughbred Racing who sponsor this race.

The four-year-old gelding will appreciate the drop in class after finishing 4.4 lengths eighth in a Saturday Doomben race last start.

Prior to that, he had been in super form with back-to-back wins at Warwick and Toowoomba where he savaged the line on each occasion.

He maps to get a lovely run for Karl Zechner who is undefeated in two rides on him.

Selections: 5-2-1-7

Race 3 - 1:39PM NGU REAL ESTATE GREATER SPRINGFIELD BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1666 METRES)

1 Le Heros

Le Heros looks close to a win following two very good runs over a mile at Doomben.

The Paul Duncan-trained six-year-old gelding led two starts back before being run down to finish third to Whisky Dream who at the time was low flying.

Last start he gave a great sight and fought bravely to finish a half-length second.

He’s rock hard fit now and maps to control the race for Casey Waddell who claims 2kg.

Selections: 1-4-6-7

Race 4 - 2:14PM HILLS FENCING Maiden Plate (800 METRES)

1 Flying Milo

This is a tricky maiden to be confident about so I’ll be treading carefully.

Flying Milo resumes for his second preparation after having just the one start in his initial campaign where he finished 3.9 lengths fifth over 1050m on the Gold Coast Poly track.

The three-year-old gelding warmed up for this with an all the way trial win over 850m recently.

His time was significantly quicker than the other two trials on the same day so he may be suited over this short scamper.

Selections: 1-14-3-6

Race 5 - 2:49PM COMMERCIAL HOTEL REDBANK BENCHMARK 62 Handicap (800 METRES)

2 Shalaa’s Moment

Shalaa’s Moment resumes here looking to keep her unbeaten first-up record intact.

The O’Dea Hoysted-trained daughter of Shalaa warmed up for this with a nice trial win where she worked home strongly under a hold.

She has raced well over this course and distance in the past including three starts back when she bolted in by three lengths.

This is a much easier class race than what she has been competing in so she looks like one of the better bets of the day.

Selections: 2-3-1-5

Race 6 - 3:24PM THANKS FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE ELAINE Class 2 Handicap (1200 METRES)

3 Bassac Lane

Bassac Lane resumes here for his second preparation.

The Toby Edmonds-trained son of Nicconi has had two soft trials leading into this first-up assignment.

He won easily on debut over 1200m on the Gold Coast Poly track last preparation before winning by a head here over 1350m third-up.

Noel Callow takes the ride and should be able to settle in a forward position from barrier 3.

Selections: 3-1-2-4

Race 7 - 4:04PM BRITOZ QLD QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1100 METRES)

6 Encrypted Elegance

Encrypted Elegance faces the starter for the first time since her Sunshine Coast debut in May where she did well to finish third by 3.3 lengths after sitting outside the lead over 1000m.

The O’Dea Hoysted-trained filly looks to have furnished during her time in the paddock based on two slick trial wins leading into this.

The most recent saw her win by 8.5 lengths over 840m at Doomben.

She has the early speed to go forward and counter the wide gate.

Selections: 6-8-10-14

Race 8 - 4:45PM THE KERWICK HOTEL REDBANK Maiden Handicap (1350 METRES)

2 Capital Cee

Capital Cee has been freshened since finishing sixth to Captain Fenkel over 1400m at Eagle Farm six weeks ago.

The Stu Kendrick-trained son of Capitalist will appreciate returning to a maiden after competing in strongers races such as an Open Handicap against his own age last start and the Toowoomba Guineas at the end of last preparation where he came third.

Kendrick scratched him from the opening race in preference for this so we must respect that decision.

He should enjoy a beautiful run from the inside gate for Cody Collis who claims 2kg.

Selections: 1-12-21-14

Best Bets

Race 2 – Prepotent (5)

Race 5 – Shalaa's Moment (2)

Race 7 – Encrypted Elegance (6)

By Craig Sheppard

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