The stage is set for one of Queensland’s most iconic racing spectacles, Ipswich Cup Day, which will light up Royal Ipswich this Saturday with a thrilling mix of sport and celebration.
A bumper nine-race card will keep punters on their toes, while the off-track entertainment promises just as much excitement, with fashion, and festivities creating a carnival-like atmosphere.
The feature race, the Listed Ipswich Cup, boasts a $250,000 purse and a competitive field headlined by Osmose, Brookhaven, Diablo Bolt, Miss Joelene and last year’s winner, Red Wave, who returns in search of back-to-back glory.
Supporting the Cup are two standout contests: the Listed Eye Liner Stakes and the Gai Waterhouse Classic, both drawing quality lineups and adding depth to an already stacked program.
Channeling Rod Kimble’s love of partying and fearless attitude, we’re storming the stables to find some winners!
Race 1 - 11:43am AEST
Class 3 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Southern Charm (4) looks well placed dropping back to a Class 3 Handicap after a super run in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes last start.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained filly started $101 but defied her price to find the line well for a 1.9 length fourth.
Three starts back she won her only previous start over this course and distance when letting down powerfully to easily win.
Justin Huxtable was aboard that day and can give her a similar run, settling in a prominent position.
1 Unit – Southern Charm (4)
Race 2 - 12:18pm AEST
BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1666 METRES)
Heman (11) has come back this preparation in terrific order and looks close to a win.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained son of I Am Invincible found the line well first-up over 1200m at Doomben but had to much work to do and finished a head second.
He backed up that last start when hitting the line hard over 1350m at Doomben to finish 1.3 lengths second to Tuf Tu Mus who has won five of seven starts.
He’ll strip fitter, appreciate the drop in class and won third-up last preparation with an impressive display over this distance.
He maps to get a nice run for Justin Huxtable.
1 Unit – Heman (11)
Race 3 - 12:53pm AEST
WINTER PROVINCIAL STAYERS FINAL (2500 METRES)
Bestower (2) was unlucky to not win the Sunshine Coast qualifier of the Winter Provincial Stayers last start when finishing a head second to The Right Way.
The Kris Lees-trained mare was held up in the straight and had to check off heels before charging to the line only to throw the race away by hanging in badly.
She meets the winner 4.5kg better at the weights and draws to get an economical run.
She takes on this distance for the first time but is rock hard fit.
1 Unit – Bestower (2)
Race 4 - 1:28pm AEST
BENCHMARK 80 Handicap (1100 METRES)
Brereton (2) has been freshened since finishing 2.2 lengths fifth after racing wide in a stronger race over 1110m at Doomben.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding looked slick in a recent trial where he worked well within himself to win and defeat Rockribbed.
On his day, he’s a class galloper having won at Group 3 level early in his career and placed in a Group 2 when he was a three-year-old.
He’ll appreciate a drier surface and Emily Lang’s claim comes in handy.
1 Unit Each Way – Brereton (2)
Race 5 - 2:03pm AEST
Class 6 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Redford (5) didn’t do a great deal when resuming on a heavy deck in the Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy at the Gold Coast.
The Stu Kendrick-trained gelding bounced back in a big way last start when making a sustained, wide run from the back to finish a neck third in wet conditions over 1400m at Eagle Farm.
He carried 61kg that day and now drops to 57.5kg and will appreciate a drier track.
He’ll have come on nicely since that run and won his only previous third-up race.
1 Unit – Redford (5)
Race 6 - 2:38pm AEDT
T L COONEY (1350 METRES)
Stay Focused (1) can be forgiven for his last start failure in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic given he had to work overtime to share the lead and also suffered from heat stress.
The Phillip Stokes-trained gelding was in terrific form before that with back-to-back wins at Moonee Valley and four-length demolition job in the Listed Nitschke Stakes at Morphettville.
He brings the strongest form and is extremely well weighted under the set weight conditions of the race given he is 8.5 rating points higher than his nearest rival.
The wide draw isn’t ideal but with even luck he should be fighting out the finish.
1 Unit – Stay Focused (1)
Race 7 - 3:17pm AEST
LISTED IPSWICH CUP (2150 METRES)
Osmose (4) hasn’t won in 64 weeks, but she gets her chance to return to the winner’s stall in the Listed Ipswich Cup.
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained mare wasn’t comfortable first-up on the heavy track at Doomben but still worked nicely to the line to finish a close third in the Listed Bernborough Handicap.
She worked strongly through the line last start when finishing two lengths third in the Magic Millions National Classic over a mile at Eagle Farm.
Her last win came in the Group 3 Epona Handicap over 1900m and she also finished a head second in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes when third-up many preparations ago so the rise in distance should suit.
She maps to get a beautiful run for Regan Bayliss who is returning to his hometown.
1 Unit – Osmose (4)
Race 8 - 3:53pm AEDT
LISTED EYE LINER STAKES (1350 METRES)
Warnie (2) looks extremely hard to beat in this year’s Listed Eye Liner Stakes.
The Ciaron Maher-trained son of Highland Reel was gelded during his break and it has been the making of him as a racehorse.
He kicked off this preparation with a neck fourth in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford before savaging the line from the tail in the Group 2 Moreton Cup last start to finish 1.1 lengths third.
He’ll strip fitter and is a previous Listed winner in Ireland and third placegetter in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes when third-up.
The rise in distance suits and he maps to get a sweet run for local lad Regan Bayliss.
Warnie is my best bet on Ipswich Cup Day.
2 Units – Warnie (2)
Race 9 - 4:30pm AEDT
LISTED GAI WATERHOUSE CLASSIC (1200 METRES)
Gerringong (16) is a lightly raced filly who has an abundance of talent and can add black-type to her resume with a Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic win.
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained daughter of Blue Point returned in good order two starts ago when working well to the line to finish a short neck second in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes at Scone.
Last start she settled well back in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at Eagle Farm before storming home to finish a half-length second.
She’ll strip fitter third-up and the likely strong speed and light weight will aid her cause.
1 Unit – Gerringong (16)