Meeting In Review 2 February 2023

Date: 03-Feb-2023

Steamy conditions greeted participants and racegoers at Thursday’s eight-race card at the Ipswich Turf Club. Despite the uncomfortable conditions, there were several special moments.

We raced on a Soft 5 surface for the bulk of the meeting before an upgrade to a Good 4 came after the completion of race 6. Thankfully the late storm that threatened to dampen the meeting didn’t occur.

Local Trainer Wins The Last

Local trainer Brett Sturgess left Thursday’s Ipswich meeting with a spring in his step after the only horse he trains, Stormtrooper, claimed the final race of the day.

Stormtrooper, a six-year-old gelding, was having his 39^th career start when he lined up in the BOOK YOUR CORPORATE EVENTS AT IEEC Colts, Geldings & Entires RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 Handicap.

With apprentice jockey Sariah Champkin in the saddle, the son El Nino showed good speed once the gates opened to drive forward and take up the running in the 1500 metres contest. Stormtrooper rolled along in front before skipping clear on the turn along with race favourite Gauntlet.

Gauntlet, who was ridden by Queensland’s leading jockey Jimmy Orman, applied the blow torch in the straight but Stormtrooper pulled out plenty to fend off the challenge and win by a neck.

Champkin’s 3kg claim proved to be vital in delivering the win with Stormtrooper carrying 5.5kg less then Gauntlet.

Stormtrooper has been the only horse in Sturgess’ stable since June 2020. The ability to give all his attention to just the one animal has proved beneficial, particularly in the past five months.

Thursday’s win was the sixth of Stormtrooper’s career and his third since October last year.

Congratulations Brett and connections on the win. It’s great to see our local trainers winning on their home deck.

Collett Earns Her Money On Spanish King

The connections of Spanish King can thank three-time Group 1 winning jockey Sam Collett for delivering them the win in Thursday’s TAB Maiden Plate over 2100 metres.

If you only saw the result without viewing the race, you would assume that it was an easy 1.3 length victory for the Marcus Wilson-trained galloper. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

From the moment the four-year-old gelding left the outside gate, he caused Collett no end of trouble. Spanish King fought her as she tried to restrain him and get across at take up a position at the tail of the field on the fence.

After taking the first turn wide, Spanish King continued to race two and three deep. With 1200 metres to go, Collett allowed her mount to roll forward to move into second place. That move seemed to spark apprentice Alisha Donald on leader Sequoia Chieftain to pick up the speed.

The move backfired on Donald as her horse weakened while Spanish King hung tough and looked to dash clear in the straight. However, he had a few more tricks to show Collett. He wanted to lug in then head out before finishing powerfully. Even after the post he wanted to run off the track.

It was a ten out of ten performance from Collett who had to call on all her experience to not just control the horse but put him into a position to win.

The victory was the first of Spanish King’s career and came at start number ten. He was very green so the experience will do him the world of good and he may go onto to win more races when he works out what it’s all about.

Ned’s Gully Goes Back-To-Back

The Paul Wallace-trained Ned’s Gully looked like the best bet of the day and he didn’t let his supporters down.

Following an impressive win over 1200 metres here just two weeks ago, punters rallied around Ned’s Gully backing him into a $1.50 favourite for THE BARN FAMILY RESTAURANT Class 4 Handicap. That was despite the four-year-old gelding rising from a Class 2 to a Class 4.

Ned’s Gully led easily last start and most expected him to do the same here. However, when the gates crashed back, Cody Collis on Turboart had other ideas. Collis drove forward to take up the running.

Showing maturity beyond his years, apprentice Jaden Lloyd allowed Turboart to go and settled just behind on the fence in second. Lloyd pulled out to sit at Turboart’s girth as they turned for home. Ned’s Gully eyeballed the leader as they straightened before hitting top gear in the straight to go on and win eased down by just under a length.

It was a terrific ride by Lloyd who was also aboard Ned’s Gully when he won two weeks ago.

The son of Bel Esprit is building a nice record particularly at Ipswich. He has now won four from 11 career starts with two of those coming at Ipswich in the past fortnight.

Granite Prince Causes Boilover

Thursday’s IEEC OPEN EVENING FROM 4PM Maiden Handicap over 1080 metres looked to be at the mercy of Dark Harmony.

The market believed it was going to be the day Dark Harmony finally kicked the bridesmaid tag and broke through for a win. A plethora of scratchings aided this confidence and saw the maligned galloper start a $1.60 favourite.

However, the Michael Nolan-trained Granite Prince had other ideas.

On a day when leaders were advantaged, apprentice jockey Bella Rabjones drove forward on Granite Prince to take up the running. Rabjones allowed the three-year-old to take a breather turning for home before giving him full boar in the straight.

With Dark Harmony looming mid-straight, Granit Prince gave a kick to pull clear and win by half a length.

Granite Prince landed a number of bets despite starting a $26 chance. There were deductions but he opened at $101.

While Michael Nolan and the connections of Granite Prince will be celebrating the win that came at start number two, Renita Beaton will be lamenting what could have been with Dark Harmony’s record now reading seven placings from eight starts.

Premiership Updates

Given we are now into the second part of the season, it is worthwhile to look at the top 5 leaders in this season’s trainer and jockey premierships. In addition to the below lists, Angela Jones leads the apprentice jockey premiership.

2022/23 Trainer Premiership

Tony Gollan –13 wins

Annabel Neasham – 9 wins

Kelly Schweida – 8 wins

Matthew Dunn – 5 wins

Chris Waller – 5 wins

2022/23 Jockey Premiership

Jimmy Orman – 20 wins

Ben Thompson – 10 wins

Brodie Loy – 9 wins

Ryan Maloney – 9 wins

Angela Jones – 7 wins