The Queensland Racing Carnival moves to Ipswich this Saturday for the city’s iconic Ipswich Cup Day race meeting.
A massive crowd will be on hand to witness a nine-race program that includes three exciting black-type races, the Listed Ipswich Cup, Eye Liner Stakes and Gai Waterhouse Classic.
We’ve provided our thoughts on each race below.
Payline (10) started his career with a string of placings but has now worked out how to win.
The Chris Munce-trained three-year-old gelding broke through for his first win in fine style at the Sunshine Coast two starts ago before finding the line powerfully to win by 3.3 lengths over 1110m at Doomben.
He’s drawn a wide gate but is low flying and just needs Justin Huxtable to find some cover.
While this is a harder affair, he looks a progressive type and up to the challenge.
1 Unit – Payline (10)
The Right Way (1) has come back this preparation in super form and looks well placed in this 2500m test.
The Greg Wright-trained gelding won over a mile here two starts back by half a length before leading all the way last start over 2150m at Toowoomba to win by a massive 8.5 lengths.
He’s undefeated in two previous starts at Ipswich and gets on well with Alisha Donald.
There doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed which should see Donald dictate in front.
1 Unit – The Right Way (1)
Madame Odette (10) was always in the worst going when resuming over 1400m at Eagle Farm last start.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare fought on well to finish 5.9 lengths from the winner but will no doubt take a fitness benefit from the run.
The rise to a mile suits and she did finish second in the Listed Princess Stakes when second-up two preparations ago.
A strong speed will be to her liking and should see her rocketing down the centre of the straight.
1 Unit – Madame Odette (10)
Rockribbed (9) returns here from a short let-up on the back of a slick trial win at Deagon.
The six-year-old gelding has not won for a very long time but looked good in his first preparation with Tony Gollan.
Two starts back when resuming, he led over 1200m at Eagle Farm before being run down late to finish a close third.
Last start in a stronger class race he finished a length second to Millane which reads well for this.
He’s drawn to get a great run just behind the speed for Vlad Duric.
1 Unit – Rockribbed (9)
Former Hong Kong galloper Oughton (10) has settled in nicely on the Gold Coast with Melissa Kelly.
The son of More Than Ready won two of his eight races at Sha Tin before having nearly a year off.
Since arriving in Australia, he won impressively at Warwick second-up before putting up a good fight despite being in the wrong part of the track to finish a half-length second over 1400m at Eagle Farm last start.
He’s at peak fitness now and maps to get a great run for Justin Stanley.
1 Unit – Oughton (10)
Miss Aria (8) comes north from Melbourne in terrific form.
The Danny O’Brien-trained mare was beaten by a nose in the Listed Nitschke Stakes at Morphettville before winning by a length at Caulfield two starts ago.
She was ultra impressive last start when savaging the line over 1400m at Sandown Hillside to win by a length.
If Damien Thornton has her within striking distance entering the straight, she will take some stopping.
1 Unit – Miss Aria (8)
Zoumon (2) was in need of the run when resuming in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup at Eagle Farm last start.
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained five-year-old gelding has a history of improving dramatically second-up boasting three wins and a second from five second-up races.
He has raced well in Queensland previously, winning the Listed Caloundra Cup during last year’s Queensland Racing Carnival.
There doesn’t look a great deal of speed in the race which will play into his hands given he’ll roll forward for Regan Bayliss.
1 Unit Each Way – Zoumon (2)
Wategos (7) has turned in two excellent performances since coming to Queensland.
The Bjorn Baker-trained son of Capitalist worked to the line strongly last start in the Spear Chief Handicap but couldn’t run down Yellow Brick, finishing just under a length second.
He’ll appreciating dropping back to this distance given he is undefeated over it including two starts back when charging home at Doomben to easily win by 2.3 lengths.
He maps to get the run of the race for Damien Thornton.
2 Units – Wategos (7)
Typhoon Taavi (13) returns from a short freshen-up after winning three races on the bounce.
The Tony Gollan-trained daughter of I Am Invincible was last seen putting on a galloping clinic over 1200m at Eagle Farm where she led from start to finish for a 2.3 length win.
It was a similar story in her two races before that at Doomben over 1200m which included a big four length victory two starts back.
Angela Jones replaces apprentice Tahlia Fenlon but she’s a previous winner on the mare so will give her every chance with an on speed run.
1 Unit Each Way – Typhoon Taavi (13)