Ipswich is the venue for this week’s Brisbane midweek metropolitan meeting, with nine races to be run and won.

The rail will be out 6m for the entire circuit and the track is currently rated a soft 5. 

We’ve had a close look at all events on the card and our thoughts can be found below.

Race 1 - 1:03pm AEST

TAB MAIDEN PLATE SW (2180 METRES)

Brief Spirit has just had the three career starts and has shown nice improvement each time he’s stepped out.

Making his debut last month at six years of age, the Chris and Corey Munce trained gelding got back off a slow start but picked up nicely over the final part.

It was a similar story second up as he stepped up to 1400m, but he relished the rise to 1800m last time as he worked home strongly to get with a length and a half of the winner.

He looks well suited out to this trip and gets in nicely with the 2kg claim for Tahlia Fenlon. 

1 unit – BRIEF SPIRIT

Race 2 - 1:38pm AEST

GREAT NORTHERN QTIS 2YO HANDICAP (800 METRES)

Vega Nova comes to the races for the first time.

A son of Russian Revolution, the colt has just had the one public trial and looked to do everything right.

In the 860m heat, he raced up on speed and kicked up in the straight to score comfortably by a long neck, with a big gap back to the rest.

The horse that finished second in the trial has since come out and won over this course and distance.

He does have to overcome the wide draw but with Kyle Wilson Taylor in the saddle, I think he’ll prove too slick for them. 

2 units – VEGA NOVA

Race 3 - 2:13pm AEST

SCHWEPPES MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200 METRES) 

Turn Up The Music was gallant in defeat last start over 1200m at Kilcoy and the gelding lines up here at peak fitness.

Taken on a long way out, he stuck on gamely to hold second, beaten only half a length.

The former Victorian has been placed in six of his twelves starts and looks well placed to finally break through.

Bailey Wheeler will take 1.5kgs off and with luck from the draw, he’ll be strong late.    

1 unit – TURN UP THE MUSIC

Race 4 - 2:48pm AEST

VINCE INSURANCE QTIS 3YP MAIDEN PLATE SW (1350 METRES)

Hello Lovely has been the runner up in two starts this campaign and looks ready to peak.

The Dan Bougoure trained filly was always wide and exposed when resuming over 1200m at the Gold Coast but she stuck on gamely.

Last start, up to 1350m here she was strong to the line but just found one better on the day. 

An improving type, she looks ideally placed and if Martin Harley can get into a nice position without doing too much work early, she’ll be right there at the finish.

1 unit – HELLO LOVELY

Race 5 - 3:23pm AEST

IPSWICH PARTY HIRE OPEN HANDICAP (1100 METRES)

Hardware Lane returns to the races and there’s a lot to like about him here.

The six year old remains unbeaten in three appearances over the 1100m at Ipswich and he does race particularly well fresh. 

He was racing well last campaign against quality opposition and proved too sharp in heavy conditions to take out the Bat Out Of Hell.

Boris Thornton will do the steering for John Smerdon and any rain on the day will only enhance his chances.

1 unit – HARDWARE LANE

Race 6 - 3:58pm AEST

RED BULL AUSTRALIA BM68 HANDICAP (1690 METRES)

Master Copy failed to finish off when resuming over 1550m at Murwillumbah but he will have taken good benefit from the outing and drops back sharply in grade.

Andrew Mallyon was aboard on that occasion and he stated post race that he may not have appreciated the firm track.

He gets conditions to suit here and Mallyon sticks with him.

Formally prepared by John O’Shea, the Irish import boasts some solid Sydney form and his second up record suggests he’s sure to improve.

1 unit – MASTER COPY

Race 7 - 4:33pm AEST

GORDON'S GIN CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1690 METRES)

Wild Gypsy wasn’t far away in her first two runs this campaign but failed to finish off last time in what was a muddling race.

Prepared by the Neasham / Archibald team, the mare comes to Queensland for the first time after having all seven of her runs in NSW. 

A winner over 1400m on the Kensington last prep, she boasts solid form around her and should find this a touch easier.

She’s fit, I don’t think she’ll have any trouble seeing out the trip and she gets a senior rider back in the saddle, with Ron Stewart to do the steering. 

1 unit – WILD GYPSY

Race 8 - 5:12pm AEST

BARRIER REEF POOLS CLASS 3 HANDICAP (1350 METRES)

Oceans Of Energy comes off a five week freshen up and she brings the strongest formlines into this event.

She failed to finish off last start in the Gateway but had performed well in two prior runs. 

A winner of three from sixteen, her record doesn’t look overly flash but she has contested stakes races on a number of occasions in Brisbane, as well as Melbourne and Sydney.

This will be the easiest race she contested for some time and she does perform well fresh.

She has won over this trip previously and is proven in all conditions.

The tongue tie goes back on and she’s drawn to get the right run under Andrew Mallyon. 

1 unit – OCEANS OF ENERGY

Race 9 - 5:50pm AEST

IMPERIAL RACING BM70 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

Sistine Explorer returns to the races.

A daughter of Brazen Beau, the mare began her career in Victoria before joining the John Smerdon camp prior to last preparation.

She settled into the sunshine state well, with two placings before making it back to back Doomben wins.

She boasts a great first up record and handles all conditions.

The 2kg claim for Jasper Franklin sees her in well and she looked sharp in a recent Gold Coast trial. 

1 unit – SISTINE EXPLORER