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Meeting In Review – Saturday 13 January 2024
Date: 15-Jan-2024
For the second week in a row, the Ipswich Turf Club hosted Saturday racing.
With the Magic Millions meeting taking place at the Gold Coast Turf Club, we stepped forward and conducted a seven-race provincial card.
Amazingly three trainers claimed wins at both meetings.
Before the Annabel Neasham stable put the polish on Lady Laguna to claim the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares race, they celebrated Dark Thinker saluting for the first time in the Barrier Reef Pools Maiden Handicap.
The three-year-old filly was having just her second start when she took her place in the 1680m contest.
As you would expect from a daughter of So You Think, she stormed home to get up in the shadows of the post for a nose win.
The win retained Neasham’s 2023/24 Ipswich Trainers Premiership lead.
Zoumeteor won the Magic Millions Country Cup for trainer Stu Kendrick before Win Burn took at the Great Northern Class 6 Handicap later in the day at Ipswich.
Win Burn rarely looked comfortable during the 1350m race and even appeared to have had enough with a furlong to go, but the Sunshine Coast galloper produced plenty in the final strides to get up in a three-way go.
Eagle Farm trainer Chris Anderson was another trainer to enjoy success at both the Gold Coast and Ipswich.
The personable conditioner saddled up Smart Recognition in the final race of the day, the Recovery Races 27 January Class 2 Handicap over 1350m.
Despite a decent market drift, the three-year-old gelding provided his backers with an easy watch, jumping straight to the front and going all the way for a 1.5 length win.
It was a well-rated ride by Michael Hellyer.
Anderson went close to landing a winning Ipswich double with Spirit Of Beans finishing second to Gracie Blue earlier in the day.
Ironically, it was Hellyer who prevented Anderson winning twice.
The hardworking hoop piloted the Danny Bougoure-trained Gracie Blue in the TAB Benchmark 62 Handicap, providing a faultless ride to deliver 0.8L victory.
It was a popular win with the grey mare a favourite within the stable and its supporters.
The speedy Runaround Sue showed a clean set of hooves to win the opening race of the day over 800m.
The Caitlin Johnstone-trained daughter of Better Than Ready was bustled early by apprentice Sariah Champkin to make full use of the inside gate and take up the running.
While the heavily backed favourite Termagant narrowed the margin to a neck on the line, the damage had been done earlier thanks to Champkin’s tactics.
Fellow Downs trainer John Thomas also found himself in the winner’s circle when his horse Expectant stormed home to win the Schweppes Benchmark 70 Handicap.
Jockey Georgie Cartwright was happy to settle at the tale of the field with a hot speed in front before letting her mount rip at the top of the straight to blast past her rivals for a neck win.
Femme Fatale recorded her fourth win at start number seven when she claimed the 1100m Benchmark 65 Handicap.
Kirk Matheson took bad luck out of the equation by pushing forward to lead.
With the favourite Heyoka bombing the start, it proved a winning move by Matheson.
The win was Kelly Schweida’s eighth at Ipswich this season and took him to second on the premiership ladder.
Racing returns to the Ipswich Turf Club this Thursday the 18th of January.
By Craig Sheppard
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