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Weekend Wrap Up 28 April – 1 May
Date: 02-May-2023
It’s been a massive Labour Day long weekend with the club hosting not one but two race meetings.
The first of these was on Friday where nine races were run and won. We then backed up yesterday (Monday) for eight races on our annual Labour Day meeting which drew a huge crowd with many families enjoying the free entertainment.
We’ve taken a look back at some of the highlights from both race days.
Collett Sends Reminder She’s Still The Queen Of Ipswich
With a winning treble at Monday’s Better Future Labour Day meeting, there was no doubt that jockey Sam Collett was the star of the show.
It was fitting that on a day that celebrates workers in the community, the hard-working and dedicated hoop would come out on top.
The proud kiwi that has called Queensland home for the past 18 months achieved a special milestone at Rockhampton on Sunday when she rode her 1000th career winner, joining her mother Trudy Thornton and father Jim Collett in a rare club.
Accomplishing her long-time goal has given Collett a much-needed boost. The 2021/22 Ipswich premiership jockey has struggled at times this season but was back to her brilliant best on Monday.
Collett registered the first of her three wins in the GOOD JOBS, BETTER SERVICES QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap over 1350m where she partnered the race favourite Classique Gal.
After a fair getaway, Collett hustled her mount to improve along the fence to settle midfield. With 600m to go, the Bruce Brown-trained filly was still five lengths off the lead. Collett angled out off the fence and started her run just before straightening. Upon successfully navigating to the centre of the track, Classique Gal let down powerfully to fly past the opposition and win easily by 2.3 lengths.
It didn’t take long for Collett to notch up win number two. It came in the very next race, the IPSWICH TRADES HALL Class 2 Handicap.
Collett teamed up with the Jack Bruce-trained Pick Za Beans in the 1666m contest. After leaving the barriers slowly, the pair settled second last ten lengths off the lead. With 800m to go, Collett started to improve her position.
Pick Za Beans was the widest runner entering the straight and was bumped even wider by Madam Cha Cha. Despite the check and the wide sustained run, the daughter of Spill The Bean let down resolutely and get her head down on the line to claim victory via a photo.
The always smiling jockey saved her best for last, producing the ride of the day on Wegobam in the HALL PAYNE LAWYERS STAKES BENCHMARK 65 Handicap.
The Jack Bruce-trained mare wasn’t the quickest away which saw Collett quickly elect to move across and settle second last on the fence. Wegobam was 11 lengths behind the leader as they passed the Great Northern sign at the 600m mark.
Collett never panicked, electing to stick to the fence as others fanned wide as they turned for home. Keeping a cool head as she moved up on the leaders' backs, Collett waited for a needle eye opening to appear on the rail before exploding through it to dash clear and win by 0.8 of a length.
The winning treble could have easily been four if not for Collett’s ride in the third race weakening late after leading to finish second by just a neck.
Local Lad Celebrates Return Home With Win
Ipswich born jockey Jake Bayliss has spent the past fifteen months riding in Singapore and New Zealand.
The multiple Group 1 winning hoop recently returned home to Queensland to establish himself ahead of the Queensland Racing Carnival.
The local lad returned to his hometown on Friday for just the one ride. Bayliss partnered the Rob Heathcote-trained Chief Artie in the final race of the day, the TAB IPSWICH CUP TICKETS ON SALE Class 1 Handicap over 1350m.
After a slightly tardy start, the four-year-old son of Flying Artie quickly mustered speed to settle just behind the leader. Bayliss stalked No Love Lost until stoking his mount up to draw level as they entered the straight. Under the urging of Bayliss, the gelding picked up strongly in the final 100m to put them away and win easily by two lengths.
Making the trip to Ipswich for just the one ride paid off for Bayliss and also the punters who backed Chief Artie into $11 from his $17 opening quote.
The win was Bayliss’ first since arriving back in Queensland and came aboard just his fifth ride. He was back at Ipswich on Monday but unfortunately didn’t salute the judge first.
We wish Jake all the best in his pursuit of Carnival rides and hopefully we’ll see him on Ipswich Cup Day.
Cartwright’s Unique Double
Jockey Georgina Cartwright completed a unique winning double across the two Ipswich meetings this past weekend.
The former Victorian who has called Brisbane home for the past three years, won the opening race on Friday and then the first race at Monday’s meeting.
Cartwright was aboard the heavily backed favourite, Mr Galazi, in the FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB Class 4 Plate over 800m.
Using the inside gate to advantage, Cartwright hustled the David Murphy-trained three-year-old to lead the race early. Mr Galazi railed like a greyhound, booting clear as they straightened. While Thawra briefly looked like it was going to challenge, it was a painless watch for favourite backers as the Sir Prancealot colt dashed clear to win easily by 1.3 lengths.
Cartwright returned to Ipswich on Monday for three rides. The first of these was in the first race on the card, the BUNDAMBA COMMUNITY STAKES Maiden Plate where she partnered the Scott Morrisey-trained Russian Pins.
The three-year-old filly was revved up early by Cartwright to find a forward position in the 800m scamper. Russian Pins sat outside race favourite Berava as the pair settled in to do battle up the straight. With 200m to go, the daughter of Russian Revolution asserted her dominance to pull away for a 1.5 length win.
Unfortunately, Cartwright was unable to taste victory in any of the other five races she took part in. It will be great to see Cartwright back at Ipswich on Saturday to see if she can extend her opening race streak to three.
Tegan’s Early Wedding Gift
Jockey Tegan Harrison married her longtime partner Ben Hull on Sunday. The 2014 Ipswich Cup winning hoop gave herself an early wedding present when saluting in Friday’s SCHWEPPES BENCHMARK 65 Handicap.
Harrison is a regular rider for the Laming stable and the trainer and jockey again teamed up with Kaiberry in the 1700m contest.
With an impost of 61kg, Harrison countered the wide gate by rolling forward on the seven-year-old gelding to sit outside the lead. The jockey of Earn Out made a move down the back straight to take up the running. Harrison quickly reacted to not allow that horse to get away and moved forward to sit on its back.
As they approached the straight, Harrison upped the ante to take up the running. She dashed clear in the straight, but the big weight took its toll late. Thankfully the winning post came when it did and Kaiberry held on for a nose win over Vyner.
It was a great ride by Harrison on a horse that had not won since October 2021.
We’d like to congratulate Tegan and Ben on their marriage and wish them a lifetime of happiness.
By Craig Sheppard
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