Meeting In Review 7 January 2023

Date: 09-Jan-2023

The Ipswich Turf Club hosted a rare Saturday race meeting on the weekend. It was the first of back-to-back Saturdays at Bundamba while the Magic Millions Carnival takes place on the Gold Coast.

A good crowd was on hand to witness a great day’s racing.

Vodka Martini Remains Undefeated

The Kelly Schweida-trained Vodka Martini came to Ipswich on Saturday looking to maintain his unbeaten record.

The striking chestnut gelding won on debut at Gatton before winning here last start.

Saturday’s DJ TRACKSIDE 14 JANUARY QTIS Three-Year-Old BENCHMARK 58 Handicap shaped as his stiffest test to date but that didn’t perturb punters who supported him as a $2.35 favourite.

Unlike his past two starts, Vodka Martini wasn’t the quickest out of the gates and it took some early riding by apprentice Jake Molloy to find a forward position.

The son of Agitate sat at leader Deb’s Ellie’s girth until they straightened. Molloy got busy early with the big weight to draw level by mid straight. With 100 metres to go, Vodka Martini proved his class and pulled away for 2.8 length victory.

Saturday’s win took Vodka Martini’s record to three wins from as many starts. The athletic gelding is a horse to follow as he advances through the grades.

It was Schweida’s eighth win of the season at Ipswich and clawed back Tony Gollan’s lead on the 2022/23 Trainers premiership to four. Schweida was season’s leading Ipswich trainer.

Longtime Member’s Memorable Win

Ipswich Turf Club member Greg “Backrester” Brown has been attending the races at his home track for over 40 years.

Brown has backed countless winners in that time but on Saturday he experienced his first win at Ipswich as an owner.

The popular local is a part-owner of the Brenton Andrew-trained Hostage Of War who lined up in the KINGSLEY LAWSON LAWYERS BENCHMARK 78 Handicap over 2150 metres.

Hostage Of War was well supported, starting as a $3 second favourite. Backers and Brown would have been feeling good about their chances in the run.

Jockey Billie-Rose Andrew took the six-year-old stayer to the front as they passed the winning post for the first time. The pair poured the pressure on down the back straight to open a big lead.

The move broke the hearts of their rivals. While Hostage Of War was on tired legs late, the damage had been done with the tough gelding winning by three lengths.

It’s good to see longtime supporters of the club enjoying success. Well done Greg!

Boogielu Glides To Another Short Course Victory

It takes a specific kind of horse to be successful over short course distances.

The Tracey Wolfgram-trained Boogielu is one such horse that has not only been successful but has been dominant.

Prior to Saturday’s 800 metres FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB BENCHMARK 70 Handicap, the four-year-old gelding had won four of five starts over the trip. His only defeat came here last start when caught deep.

Bad luck was taken out of the equation this time with Boogielu drawing an inside barrier. That fact was not lost on the market with the son of Sooboog starting the $2.15 favourite.

Jockey Rikki Jamieson fired Boogielu out of the gates to quickly take the lead. The speedster appeared to have his rivals off the bit while he was cruising in front.

The duo was well in front in the straight with Jamieson sitting quiet as a short mouse on her mount as they strode to a two-length win. It was an easy watch for his supporters.

The win took Boogielu’s record over 800 metres to five wins from six starts. An impressive achievement from a very speedy galloper.

Boogielu was Jamieson’s only ride on the day making it a rewarding and worthwhile visit to Ipswich.

Rank Outsider Causes Boilover

Having won just once in 19 previous starts, very few gave Shadie Milly a chance in Saturday’s BRAD MADSEN MEMORIAL Class 2 Plate.

So much so that the Vishan Venkaya-trained mare started a $101 despised rank outsider.

As the racing saying goes, “horses can’t read” and that certainly was the case here with Shadie Milly defying her price to race like a horse well in the market.

The five-year-old daughter of Dane Shadow settled midfield on the fence in the 1500 metres contest. As they approached the straight, jockey Karl Zechner got his mount to the outside.

Hyde looked like he was going to skip clear in the straight. However, Shadie Milly sprouted wings in the final furlong to nail Hyde on the line and cause an almighty upset.

Venkaya has been a jockey for many years but only recently turned his hand to training.

Shadie Milly’s win was just the second of Venkaya’s 17 race training career.

Next Ipswich Meeting

Be sure to get yourself to the Ipswich Turf Club on Saturday 14 January for DJ Day! Along with great racing we’ll have a DJ playing all day on the Viewing Terrace.

By Craig Sheppard

Back to list