Meeting In Review – Friday 17 November 2023

Date: 20-Nov-2023

Friday racing returned to Ipswich last week where Jackson Morris was among the winners.

Morris has been a jockey for nearly 20 years but at Friday’s meeting he celebrated victory for the first time as a trainer with King Dick.

The larrikin hoop is a newcomer to the training ranks having saddled up his first runner just last month at Beaudesert.

King Dick lined up in the Altec Benchmark 55 Handicap for the Ipswich-based conditioner and garnered some support, being backed into $7 from $9.

Justin Huxtable made short work of the outside gate in the field of 11, driving forward to settled second in the run.

The six-year-old gelding burst clear when they hit the straight and dashed away for an easy 2.8 length win.

Morris has had an interesting career and has piloted a horse to a black-type win, but Friday’s Benchmark 55 Handicap will forever hold a special place in his heart as his first win as a trainer.

Ben Thompson took advantage of this year’s leading Ipswich jockey Jimmy Orman’s absence by narrowing the gap in the premiership race to just two wins.

The popular jockey partnered the Paul Butterworth-trained Impending Rose to victory in the opening event of the day, the Colenso Joinery QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap.

After jumping well in the 1680m contest, Thompson elected to settle in the second half of the field.

Thompson started to improve 800m out, circling the field with a wide run before sprinting quickly at the top of the straight.

While the gap was shortened to a long neck on the line, the race was well in the Impending filly’s grasp 300m from home thanks to Thompson’s well-timed ride.

There were some big margins of victory across the nine-race card, but none more so than in the Ipswich City Bulls Football Club Maiden Plate where The Lucky Alien won by 4.3 lengths.

Ironically, it took place in the shortest race of the day over 800m.

Starting from barrier 11 in the field of 13, the Greg Cornish-trained gelding showed his customary speed under Jaden Lloyd to lead.

The margin entering the straight was two lengths but was quickly extended with the three-year-old putting his rivals to the sword on his way to a big win.

It was also a one act affair in the staying race of the day where Martin Harley guided the Chris Anderson-trained A Dime Approach to a 3.8 length maiden win.

2021/22 Ipswich Premiership winning jockey Sam Collett found herself back in the winner’s stall on Friday with Tavis Town.

The Paul Duncan-trained seven-year-old gelding was considered a $21 outsider in the Future Finance Group Class 5 Handicap due to him not having tasted success since April 2022.

Collett rolled straight to the front in the 1680m race and rated her mount beautifully to go all the way.

It was the second win at Ipswich in as many weeks for the always smiling kiwi jockey.

Ipswich-raised jockey Jake Bayliss combined with Jack Bruce’s Zattastar to claim the Total Club Management Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1350m.

The daughter of Zoustar responded to Bayliss’ vigorous riding by digging deep to nose out Witness Attack.

It is rare that seven-time Ipswich Trainer of the Year, Tony Gollan comes to Ipswich and doesn’t return to his Eagle Farm base with a win.

The Gollan-trained Jump ‘N’ Fly made it back-to-back wins when she finished best for last year’s leading Ipswich Apprentice Angela Jones to win narrowly in a tight go.

Parachuter is a recent addition to the Toby and Trent Edmonds stable and she has wasted no time getting on the board.

The daughter of Shooting To Win looked close to a win after two very good runs which saw punters rally around her on Friday and back her into a $1.85 favourite.

Ryan Maloney gave the mare a great run before presenting her in the straight at the right time for a narrow win.

The Lindsay Gough-trained Bullion Boy proved a touch too strong for Sacred Mission in a sit and sprint affair to end the day.

By Craig Sheppard

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