Ipswich will play host to this week’s Queensland Metropolitan meeting with eight races to be run and won on Wednesday as we count down to Doomben Cup Day in Brisbane this weekend.
With plenty of recent rain the track is currently in the heavy range and with the possibility of showers on the day, it’s likely to stay that way.
I’ve had close look at each event on the card and you can find my detailed selections below in my Ipswich Preview.
Race 1 - 12:33pm AEST
SCHWEPPES QTIS 2YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Provoker kicked off his career with a very encouraging effort over 1000m at Eagle Farm and he will have taken plenty of benefit from the experience.
Jumping away well, the son of Encryption settled just behind the leaders and whilst he didn’t take the corner too well, he was strong to the line to claim third behind stakes performer Sisstainable.
He looks well suited stepping out to 1200m and with natural improvement, I think he’ll be hard to beat.
1 unit – PROVOKER
Race 2 - 1:08pm AEST
GREAT NORTHERN MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
For Better had no luck at all when resuming for the new stable but she will have taken good fitness benefit from the outing.
Over this course and distance, she travelled nicely throughout but when making her run 150m out, the gap suddenly closed, denying her any chance of figuring in the finish.
Formally prepared by the Moody / Coleman team, she‘d been placed in three starts in Victoria and looks nearing a win.
Jag Guthmann-Chester jumps aboard for team Archibald and with luck from the wide draw, she’ll be right in this.
1 unit – FOR BETTER
Race 3 - 1:43pm AEST
TAB BM65 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
Jenchick Boom is putting together a handy record and she looks to have plenty of upside.
From five race starts, she’s now recorded two wins and two seconds and was found to have pulled up with cardiac arrythmia at her only unplaced outing.
Game to the line after enduring a wide run two starts back, the Tony Gollan trained mare proved far too good last time, settling midfield and extending strongly over the final part to pull away and score easily.
She does have the wide draw to overcome but with even luck, I think she’ll be hard to beat.
1 unit – JENCHICK BOOM
Race 4 - 2:18pm AEST
SACRED ELIXIR QTIS 2YO HANDICAP (1350 METRES)
Navy Pilot comes off a dominant win at Doomben and looks well placed to make it back to back successes.
The son of I Am Invincible had just had the two starts prior where he powered home to finish a close fifth on the Kensington before he was thrown in the deep end, contesting the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes, where he was only beaten three lengths.
With a month since that latest run, he’s been kept up to the mark with a Doomben trial win and he draws to get the right run under Ryan Maloney.
2 units – NAVY PILOT
Race 5 - 2:53pm AEST
BARRIER REEF POOLS QTIS 3YO HANDICAP (2180 METRES)
Éclair Encore proved superior over 1800m at Eagle Farm last start, and I think she’ll relish stepping out over 2180m here.
It was a deserved win for the Kris Lees trained filly as she’d been placed in three runs prior and she was very strong through the line last time as she edged away over the final part.
With just the eight race starts, she performed well on each occasion and looks very progressive.
A winner on debut in heavy conditions, the track shouldn’t worry her and if she can find cover early of the tricky draw, she’s sure to be strong late.
1 unit – ECLAIR ENCORE
Race 6 - 3:28pm AEST
GORDON'S GIN BM75 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Roll Up returns to the races and the son of Zoustar just loves it here at Ipswich.
With six wins from eight appearances at this track, he’s hard to go past.
He recorded back to back wins here last preparation before enduring a tough run at Doomben where he got a long way back and was always wide.
Subsequently spelled, he resumes off a nice 1000m Doomben trial and he does race particularly well fresh.
Kelly Schweida has elected to claim, securing Cody Vilter to do the steering and take 2kgs off.
1 unit – ROLL UP
Race 7 - 4:03pm AEST
TEMPUS TWO CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Simply Excels has made it two wins from four runs this preparation and looks well placed to add to that tally.
The Tony Gollan trained son of Exceed And Excel was sent to the paddock after a very green debut effort and returned in fine order, saluting over this track and trip first up before recording back-to-back placings at Eagle Farm and Doomben.
He showed a good kick last time to get the job done when dropping back to 1200m at Doomben and I think he’ll be hard to beat again staying at that trip.
1 unit – SIMPLY EXCELS
Race 8 - 4:37pm AEST
TAB IPSWICH CUP TICKETS ON SALE CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1690 METRES)
Chosen Legend has been solid in two starts for the new stable and the former Victorian looks nicely placed here up to the mile at her third run in.
A daughter of Extreme Choice, the filly recorded her maiden win on the Caulfield Heath back in December and was sent North after she pulled up with muscle soreness following a disappointing effort at Mornington.
She kicked off her campaign with an even effort on the poly track and last time, over 1200m here, she got a long way back and charged home late into second.
The rise in trip will certainly suit and she draws to get the right run under Luke Dempsey.
1 unit – CHOSEN LEGEND