IPSWICH REVIEW (THURS, OCT 9)

A review of the meeting held at Ipswich on Thursday, October 9.

Race 1:

QTIS 3yo Class 1 Handicap - 1200m
1st – Brav ‘N' Ample; 2nd - Dantain Boy; 3rd – Kwila Sunrise

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bill Trimble: “He would have done a lot better last start but he cut into himself. There was blood streaming. He did some sesamoid damage. He recovered well and I was going to take him to town last week but I decided to miss that one. I had to go easy on the horse and I wanted to wait and make sure the bruising had healed fully. He came back well today. If they could all come back like that it would be a pleasure.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Dantain Boy raced wide throughout. L. Dittman, rider of Dantain Boy, was examined by the club's doctor after he injured his right leg in the barriers on jumping away and was stood down from his remaining engagements.

*Ipswich is not the luckiest track for Dittman. Previously, a fall at the track put the young rider out of action for several months.


Race 2:

Racing Class 4 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Prayer Chamber; 2nd - Jerome's Star; 3rd - Whimpy

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Chris Dawson: “He’s been going well enough. Then I tried him over a mile which he didn’t get. I gave him a break after that then went to Gympie for a freshener. The track didn’t suit him and they went pretty fast which made it hard for him racing against horses who are trained there. So we came back here with no expectations, but obviously I’m very happy with the result.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Whimpy (S. Scriven) began awkwardly and lost ground. Magique Mine (L. Rolls) also began awkwardly. Ebony Lad (A. Erhart) over-raced in the early and middle stages, placing its rider at a disadvantage. Road To Honours (A. Spinks) raced wide from a point leaving the 600m.
When questioned regarding the performance of Whimpy, jockey S. Scriven stated that whilst the gelding travelled reasonably in running, it failed to show its usual acceleration when placed under pressure in the straight and, in his opinion, finished the race off only fairly. S. Scriven was of the view that Whimpy may be in need of a spell. Trainer G. Clunes agreed with S. Scriven's comments, adding that Whimpy would be sent for an immediate spell.


Race 3:

Ipswich Maiden Handicap - 1710m
1st – Bugsytwoshoes; 2nd - Paleface Warrior; 3rd - Tic Toc Tiger

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer David Kelly: “He has been coming on really well this prep. The 1200m runs were too short for him. Stepped up to 1500m last time and probably was a bit unlucky. The winner went to the inside and he went to the outside and there was only three-quarters of a length in it at the line. I think he got the makings of developing into a nice stayer.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Realante (G. Baker) over-raced in the early stages of the race. Speedy Cash (J. Taylor) raced wide in the early stages. Near the 500m, Realante (G. Baker) shifted out away from Stiletto Heels (A. Pattillo), which also shifted out. As a result, Homesick was forced wider on the track. Passing the 400m, Tic Toc Tiger (A. Taylor) shifted out in order to improve around the heels of Danish King (R. McMahon) and in doing so bumped Speedy Cash. A. Taylor, rider of Tic Toc Tiger, was advised to exercise more care. Paleface Warrior (S. Richardson) shifted out under pressure over the final 200m. Magnifico (J. Holder) raced wide throughout. Trainer R. Pereira was advised that Speedy Cash, which tailed off, would be required to barrier trial satisfactorily prior to its next race start.


Race 4:

Class 5 Handicap - 1710m
1st - Leges Opinio 2nd - Fools Rush In 3rd - Mataranka 4th - Supreme Agenda

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Greg Kennedy: “We thought he’d go well. He was second-up over a more suitable distance and the race went to plan.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Seekawinner (A. Badger) raced wide in the early stages. Rory’s Thunder (A. Spinks) raced wide from the 600m.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Rory’s Thunder, A. Spinks stated that after a slow early pace, the gelding was unable to respond when the pace quickened considerably from the 600m. He added that when placed under pressure at the top of the straight, Rory’s Thunder failed to respond to his riding. A post race veterinary examination of Rory’s Thunder failed to reveal any obvious abnormalities. Leges Opinio lost its off-fore plate in running.


Race 5:

Maiden Handicap - 1200m
1st – Maraquitas; 2nd – Liquidate; 3rd - Many Excuses

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Maraquitas (Joe Bowditch) had to win the race twice – once on the track and once in the Stewards room – after a protest was lodged on behalf of Liquidate (Ric McMahon). Evidence was taken from both jockeys involved.

Jockey Ric McMahon (giving evidence at the protest hearing): My horse suffered interference at the home turn. My horse was travelling pretty good within itself when the winner came out and bumped my horse. The interference put us off balance for three or four strides and pushed us out three or four wide. If that hasn’t cost me the race I’ll give it up. If he hadn’t done that, he would have had to come around my heels and I would have been off and gone.”

Jockey Joe Bowditch (giving evidence at the protest hearing): “I travelled just behind the leader. Approaching the turn, Ric’s horse (Liquidate) was inclined to get on one rein and hang out. That left enough of a run between him and the leader for me to take. The leader then shifted out which carried me wider. My horse won on its merits. Liquidate still had the whole length of the straight to pick us up and he couldn’t.”

Maraquitas’s winning margin was a nose. The protest was dismissed.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
On return to scale a protest was lodged by R. McMahon, rider of the 2nd placegetter, Liquidate, against Maraquitas (J. Bowditch) being declared the winner, alleging interference rounding the home turn. After taking evidence from the parties concerned and viewing the stewards' patrol videos, stewards found that rounding the home turn, Liquidate, which was racing outside the leader, shifted out slightly, which enabled Maraquitas to force a tight run between those runners, and as a result Liquidate became unbalanced when attempting to hold its position. Whilst stewards acknowledged that Liquidate became unbalanced at this point, taking into account all the circumstances, in particular bearing in mind where the incident occurred in relation to the winning post, stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that a reversal of placings was warranted, and therefore the protest was dismissed and correct weight semaphored on the Judge's numbers.
Near the 900m, Got The Cash (W. Clasohm) had to be steadied away from the heels of Just Larry (P. Wolfgram), which shifted in. P. Wolfgram, rider of Just Larry, was advised to exercise more care in future.
A. Spinks, rider of Diamond Jay, was reminded of his obligations regarding the use of his whip on a horse out of contention. A post race veterinary examination of I’montop failed to reveal any obvious abnormalities.


Race 6:

Class 1 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Miz Winfrey; 2nd - Regal Mountain; 3rd - He's Wise

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Ruth Smith (wife of trainer Keith Smith): “The plan was always to be just off the speed and come home over the top of them. We decided to take the blinkers off last time because she tends to over-race with them, but then she played up at the barriers and was withdrawn at the start at Lismore. So they were back on today. Hopefully, with age, she can learn to settle more.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Annamarie (S. Scriven) began awkwardly and lost considerable ground at the start. Miz Winfrey (J. Taylor) also began awkwardly and shifted out, hampering Gothika (S. Richardson). Near the 900m, Christi’s Idol (L. Rolls), when improving, clipped the heels of He’s Wise (M. Hughes) and blundered badly, losing considerable ground. In this incident, Sparkling Tango (A. Spinks), which was following, shifted out abruptly to avoid the heels of Christi’s Idol. Annamarie (S. Scriven) was inclined to over-race in the early stages of the event. Annamarie raced wide from a point leaving the 900m. Annamarie was inclined to lay out under pressure from the 200m, placing its rider at a disadvantage. Dancing Beni (G. Baker) and Afling (N. Evans) both raced wide throughout. Christi’s Idol (L. Rolls) lost its off hind plate in running


Race 7:

Class 3 Plate - 800m
1st - Courtyard Circle; 2nd - Hodges Street; 3rd - Red Wine Bwana

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Michael Nolan: “She started off with three wins and then went terrible. She had to have a wind operation and it was good to see her come back strong. I didn’t think she would lead but I guess the track record speaks for itself.”

Jockey Amy Taylor: “Gee she’s fast. She had no trouble crossing to the rail and I just let her go. They were scrubbing along trying to stay with her, but they couldn’t. She was too good.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Zahbaj, which was fractious in the barriers, dropped its head as the start was effected and as a result jumped away extremely awkwardly, dislodging jockey P. Wolfgram. Connections were advised that a barrier certificate must be provided for Zahbaj prior to its next race start. Near the 500m, Conflicted (L. McCoy) was placed in restricted room between Falah (W. Clasohm) and Barbintary Eye (J. Murphy), which shifted in away from Hodges Street (D. Craven), which was inclined to lay in. Chardonair (A. Badger) and Koomerang Too (S. Richardson) raced wide throughout. Courtyard Circle lost its near fore plate in running. Love That Magic bled during the event. Trainer M. Price was advised that the mare would be barred from racing for a period of 3 months.


Race 8:

QTIS Class 2 Handicap - 1350m
1st - King Of Spirit; 2nd – Auscoal; 3rd - Periander

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Syd Watters: “He’s been going over 1000m and 1200m and hitting the line hard. I wanted to try him over further and so I came here because it is a relatively easy track - and he came through.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
A pre-race veterinary examination Overruling (C. Reith) revealed a small amount of blood on the outside of the lip. Overruling was cleared to race. Spanish Pal (G. Baker) was slow to begin. Approaching the 1200m, Falling Star (J. Bowditch) shifted in and bumped Johnny Aucash (C. Whiteley), resulting in Falling Star becoming unbalanced. Near the 1000m, Auscaol (J. Byrne) and Falling Star were cramped for room by King Of Spirit (M. Hughes), which shifted in. M. Hughes, rider King Of Spirit, was advised to exercise more care. G. Baker, rider of Spanish Pal, was reminded of his obligations regarding the use of his whip on a horse out of contention.