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Meeting In Review – Thursday 7 November 2024 New
Date: 08-Nov-2024
Racegoers who braved the scorching heat at our Thursday meeting were rewarded with a special treat and for many, a once in lifetime experience.
Robbie Dolan’s life has been thrown upside down since piloting Knight’s Choice to victory in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, and despite saying otherwise if he won Australia’s greatest race, he fulfilled his book of Ipswich rides.
The popular hoop not only attended but brought along his prized Melbourne Cup trophy which he proudly posed with in photos with well-wishers.
It took until the last race, the Class 1 Handicap over 1710m, but the punters got what they were craving, a Dolan win.
The jockey with the voice of an angel hit all the right notes when it counted on the Barry Lockwood-trained Victory Command.
It looked grim entering the straight with a lack of running room, but Dolan got his mount to the outside at the right time, and he let down powerfully to get up in the shadows of the post.
Fellow Melbourne Cup jockey, Ron Stewart also enjoyed success on Thursday.
After finishing seventh aboard Fancy Man in the race that stops the nation, Stewart came to Ipswich for just one ride.
He partnered the Chris Anderson-trained Blitzum and the three-year-old gelding did exactly what his name suggests, storming home for a four-length win in the 1200m Maiden Handicap.
The luck of the Irish was not only on Dolan’s side but also helped fellow jockey Martin Harley be victorious on the locally trained Twyford.
The John Hubbard-trained gelding enjoys racing on his home track with all four of his wins coming at the Bundamba circuit.
Harley went straight to the front and drove Twyford to the line hard to win by a neck and land some good bets.
It was Hubbard’s first win of the season and gave him a share of the Local Trainers Premiership.
The locals enjoyed another win on the day when Ipswich-raised jockey Jake Bayliss got the most out of roughie Jumeirah Triangle in the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 2210m.
Tony Gollan and Matthew Dunn have been battling for the lead in the Ipswich Trainers Premiership all season and they remained locked at the top after both conditioners claimed a win each.
Gollan, an eight-time leading Ipswich trainer, put the polish on Surprise Honey who started as a $1.28 favourite in the Maiden Plate over 800m.
Following a fast getaway, Gollan’s stable apprentice Emily Lang was able to settle outside the lead before booting clear at the top of the straight and going on to win by 1.4 lengths.
Dunn, who won the 2011/12 premiership got the cash in the Ratings Band 0-62 Handicap with Milton Road.
Andrew Mallyon settled second on the grey gelding before dashing clear in the straight to win by 1.1 lengths.
Earlier in the day, Donna Stanbridge saddled up three of the six two-year-olds taking part in the 800m scamper.
Rikki Jamieson hustled Mishani Quest out of the outside gate to lead and was able to get the most out of the filly to provide Stanbridge with the win.
Racing returns to Ipswich on Saturday the 16th of November when we will host our Spring Raceday.
By Craig Sheppard
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