Ipswich Selections – Thursday 21 March 2024

Date: 20-Mar-2024

Thursday racing comes to Ipswich this week where we’ll host a seven-race program.

The rail is out 6m the entire course and with the possibility of showers on race day could see the track rated in the Soft range.

We’ve cast our eye over the form and provided our thoughts on each race below.

Race 1 - 1:34PM FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB BENCHMARK 65 Handicap (2150 METRES)

2 Mount Zion

Mount Zion was very good two starts back when easily winning by 1.8 lengths at Grafton over 2120m.

The Jeff Dunn-trained gelding caught the eye over 2200m here last start when finding the line powerfully to finish 0.7 of a length behind Van Gogh.

He simply gave too much start that day but now meets Van Gogh 2kg better at the weights.

He’s only lightly raced so has upside and should be rock hard fit now.

Selections: 2-1-6-3

Race 2 - 2:12PM GREAT BARRIER REEF QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (800 METRES)

8 Make It So

Make it So is on debut here following two trials.

The Liam Birchley-trained daughter of Spirit Of Boom has shown good speed in both her trials which bodes well for this 800m scamper.

After finishing a close second in her first trial, she led all the way in the heavy conditions at the Sunshine Coast.

In a positive sign, Jimmy Orman has been booked to ride.

Selections: 8-12-2-10

Race 3 - 2:47PM EASTER MONDAY RACES Class 4 Handicap (1666 METRES)

4 Ozarch

Ozarch has been racing in great form lately and looks well placed here.

The Kevin Kemp-trained five-year-old gelding easily won two in a row over 1625m at Toowoomba three and four starts ago.

Last start he put in an excellent effort to finish fourth by 2.4 lengths despite being wide throughout over 1700m on the questionable QTIS Jewel Day Gold Coast track.

He’ll appreciate the drop in class and maps to get a great run for Nozi Tomizawa.

Selections: 4-1-3-5

Race 4 - 3:27PM AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY TRADE COLLEGE Class 1 Handicap (1200 METRES)

8 Zoraydah

Zoraydah resumes here on the back of a soft trial where she worked home well despite not being asked for any effort.

The David Vandyke-trained mare has raced well fresh in the past, including when resuming last preparation where she weaved through traffic to run on strongly and win over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast.

Ryan Maloney takes the ride and boasts a 32% winning strike-rate when combining with Vandyke.

She maps to get a nice run so if there’s market support, we can be confident about a bold showing.

Selections: 8-6-1-7

Race 5 - 4:04PM VINCE INSURANCE Class 3 Handicap (1200 METRES)

6 Great Aspirations

Great Aspirations was scratched from a winnable race on Wednesday at Doomben for this.

The Tony Gollan-trained son of Savabeel proved too strong in the heavy conditions to win by 1.3 lengths at the Sunshine Coast two starts back.

Last start over 1110m at Doomben, he was held up in the straight but worked home strongly to finish second to Press Link who was an impressive winner on Saturday at Eagle Farm.

The rise to 1200m suits and Ryan Maloney should be able to give him the run of the race from barrier 2.

Selections: 6-2-8-3

Race 6 - 4:42PM PRECINCT URBAN PLANNING Fillies & Mares BENCHMARK 62 Handicap (1350 METRES)

3 Ma’s Epic

Ma’s Epic worked overtime from the wide gate to find a spot outside the lead last start over 1350m at Doomben.

Despite that they Toby Edmonds-trained four-year-old mare fought on bravely to finish 2.9 lengths sixth.

She’s rock hard fit and returns to Ipswich for the first time since winning here first-up over 1100m four starts ago.

Jasper Franklin, who claims 2kg, should be able to find a forward position much easier than last start.

Selections: 3-10-5-8

Race 7 - 5:19PM TAB Colts, Geldings & Entires BENCHMARK 62 Handicap (1350 METRES)

8 Greylander

Could this be the race where Greylander finally decides racing is for him?