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Meeting In Review – Thursday 15 February 2024
Date: 16-Feb-2024
Following a run of weekend meetings, racing returned to a Thursday timeslot this week.
Eight races were run and won with Darryl Hansen and Jai Williams combining in the final two races of the day to be the stars of the show.
Hansen brought two horses to Ipswich from his Sunshine Coast base, Alpha Jane and Sian Star and both returned to their Caloundra boxes as winners.
Alpha Jane was very gutsy when finishing second at Ipswich last start, which captured the attention of form students and saw her well in the market as a $2.70 second favourite.
That grit and determination was again on show in the Barrier Reef Pools Fillies & Mares Ratings Band 0-58 Handicap over 1350m.
Williams was content to settle midfield and let the four-year-old mare roll along at her own pace.
He stoked her up approaching the turn and when a gap came in the straight, she exploded through it to dash clear and win easily by 2.8 lengths.
Sian Star won over this course and distance last start and despite drawing the outside gate in the field of twelve, the market rallied around the four-year-old to send him out as the favourite for the final event of the day.
While a strong speed was being set in front, the apprentice found himself three-deep midfield.
It was unenviable position to be in and things looked grim for the Star Turn gelding.
However, he’s as tough as nails and was amazingly able to circle the field and charge home for a relatively soft one-length win.
The win provided Hansen and Williams with a race-to-race double and made leviathan part-owner of Sian Star Bradley Peut a very happy man.
The young hoop came agonisingly close to grabbing himself a winning treble when his mount, All Stashed Up, charged home in the Benchmark 62 Handicap over 800m.
The race was won by the O’Dea Hoysted-trained Underhand who is building an imposing record over the scamper distance.
Regular rider Emily Lang made full use of the inside gate to drive forward to take up the running.
The diminutive speedster shot clear at the top of the straight and looked all over a winner but had to defy a late challenge from a flying All Stashed Up to cling on for a nose win.
Equine Pilot Mark Du Plessis provided Toowoomba trainer Rochelle Pereira with an emotional win in the opening race when he guided Blantons Run to the winner’s stall.
The two-year-old filly who was making her debut, was presented in the mounting yard by Pereira in immaculate order and a clear standout for yard watchers.
Speed is generally a positive in 800m races, but Blatons Run couldn’t go with them early and found herself towards the tail.
However, that would not be an issue for this girl who let down powerfully to charge past her rivals.
On a day when short priced favourites such as Taranaki ($1.20) and The Punisher ($1.55) were unceremoniously rolled, More Love was able to buck the trend.
The Jeff Dunn-trained four-year-old mare lined up in the TAB Maiden Handicap over 1350m as a $1.24 favourite.
Under Rikki Jamieson, More Love settled second and seemingly enjoyed a lovely run.
However, leader Too Much Makeup gave a kick in the straight and More Love looked to be in strife as she made hard work of the chase.
Despite wanting to run about, she flew late to get up in the shadows of the post and save favourite punters more anxiety.
Just under two weeks ago local trainer Tony Sheehan celebrated his first win as a conditioner with Vancity.
The duo enjoyed the feeling so much that they decided to win again at Thursday’s meeting on their home deck.
Aided by West Cork setting a strong speed in the 1680m contest, the Vancouver mare was able to storm home from the tail of the field to salute by a length.
It was the fourth Ipswich meeting in a row that at least one of our own trainers has claimed a victory.
Metropolitan racing returns to Ipswich when we host midweek racing on Wednesday the 21st of February.
By Craig Sheppard
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