IPSWICH REVIEW (THURS, JAN 15)

A review of the meeting held at Ipswich on Thursday, January 15.

Race 1:

3yo & Up Maiden Plate - 2150m
1st - Straight Shooting; 2nd - Tyrconnell; 3rd - Brilliant Ween

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Brent Evans took Straight Shooting back from the wide draw, but he couldn’t get in and remained wide the entire trip. The duo gradually improved their position from the 1000m and they were in contention when the field straightened at the top of the home straight. There was no flash of acceleration though, but rather a grinding performance from Straight Shooting who, in the end, produced a finely timed finish to land his breakthrough victory.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Straight Shooting): 9.00 Steady.
Favourite (Benzine): 2.40 out to 3.00. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Tyrconnell (Matthew Palmer) got its head in the air and jumped away awkwardly. Montaperti (B. Pengelly) missed the start. Rounding the home turn, Tyrconnell shifted out in an effort to improve and brushed Brilliant Ween (J. Bowditch). Brilliant Ween was then held up for clear running until near the 200m. When questioned regarding the performance of Benzine, G. Colless stated that the horse had settled well in running, however after commencing a run three wide from the half mile, the horse was under pressure near the 400m and whilst inclined to lay in, did not finish the race off as expected. Trainer L. Mayfield-Smith agreed that the horse's performance was disappointing and felt that Benzine may be better suited on tracks which are rain affected. The explanation was noted.


Race 2:

Maiden Handicap (Mares) - 1350m
1st - Glennie West; 2nd - Wedding Night; 3rd - Tickle Quick

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Darren Bell: “I said to Matty to put her up there and let her run her own race. When they took off at the 600m I must admit I thought he might have been going a bit early at the time because the mare does have limitations, but obviously it was the right decision. She’s a little bit one-paced, but she is also very honest and will always try hard. I’m still not one-hundred percent certain about what her best distance might be. In here previous two runs she weakened ... but she did work early in those runs which could be why she felt the pinch at the end. At the moment she’s suited to this sort of distance. It allows her to get into the race. I’m hoping she’ll stretch to a mile, but I’m not sure.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Glennie West): 2.10 out to 2.30.
Favourite (All Show): 2.10 out to 2.20. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Glennie West (Matthew Palmer) faltered on jumping away. Danetel Miss (J. Warrington) was slow to begin. Shortly after the start, Queen Of The Storm (M. Radecker) was tightened for room between Wedding Night (B. El-Issa) and Prussian Necklace (M. Heagney), which shifted in away from Glennie West. Queen Of the Storm (M. Radecker) was caught three wide without cover for the majority of the race. Prussian Necklace raced three wide for the majority of the event. When questioned as to the performance of All Show, M. Speers stated that the horse could not make any ground from the 700m until straightening due to it having a tendency to lay out. J. Warrington, rider of Danetel Miss, was reprimanded for using his whip on a horse out of contention.


Race 3:

QTIS 3yo Maiden Plate - 1350m
1st - Jersey Joe; - Young Cried Wolf; 3rd - Country Kiss

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Helen Page: “He’s is such a big, beautiful horse. I just love him. We are just allowing him to mature in his own time and he is showing us plenty of promise. We’ve just been stepping him up gradually in distance. With his breeding on his dam’s side, he should go a mile. I think I’ve probably got the biggest of the Falvelons (Jersey Joe) and the smallest (Power Of George) in my yard. I just love the Falvelons . I’ve been very lucky with them."

Jockey Jason Taylor: “It was an effortless win. I rode him in his first race and I’ve ridden him in work. He was green and all over the place when he started out. Yeah, just very green. He’s come back this prep going really well. With that big stride he just left them behind today without even really trying. It was as easy as it looked.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Jersey Joe): 4.00 out to 4.20.
Favourite (Cha Cha Man): 3.00 out to 3.60. Finished tenth and last.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Honour Barney (B. Evans) jumped away awkwardly and missed the start. Leaving the 1200m, Not Declared (A. Taylor) had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Flash Romeo (J. Letherby), which shifted in when not sufficiently clear. J. Letherby, rider of Flash Romeo, was severely reprimanded and instructed to provide more clearance in future when crossing. For some distance approaching the 1000m, Country Kiss (G. Colless) got its head up and was inclined to over-race. Young Cried Wolf (M. Speers) was also inclined to over-race for some distance in the vicinity of the 1000m. Also at the same stage, Cha Cha Man (B. Pengelly) was tightened for room when racing between Young Cried Wolf and Our Centurion, which was inclined to lay in. J. Bowditch, rider of Our Centurion, was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Cha Cha Man was obliged to race three wide and compounded over the latter stages to finish some distance from the main body of the field. A post race veterinary examination of Cha Cha Man revealed the horse to be lame in the near-side foreleg and connections were informed that a veterinary clearance would be required for Cha Cha Man prior to its next race start.


Race 4:

4yo & Up E&G Maiden Handicap- 1350m
1st - Huss; 2nd - Taimazon; 3rd - Kalenji

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Glen Colless: “He got a pretty soft lead and was basically was allowed to have his own way up front. Then they gave him just enough leeway in the straight to get the result. He was running on empty though so he does have limitations, which is why he’s taken sixteen runs to win. There are a lot of seconds and thirds in his form. He needed things to go his way to get the win and they did today.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Huss): 1.80 Steady.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
For some distance in the vicinity of the 1200m, Kalenji (K. Banks) over-raced, having to be eased from the heels of Ciento Mambo. Leaving the 800m, Little Ombre (J. Warrington) faltered. Jockey K. Banks, rider of the 3rd placegetter, Kalenji, was fined $200 for failing to ride her mount right out to the finish line. A post race veterinary examination of Ciento Mambo revealed the gelding to be suffering from colic and was distressed.


Race 5:

3yo & Up Maiden Handicap - 1100m
1st - Your Mate Jimmy; 2nd - All Kiwi; 3rd - Mada

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Paul Nolan (Jnr) trained Your Mate Jimmy had an ordinary start before settling in midfield. The gelding travelled well and picked up ground easily by holding the inside line in the sweep to the turn. On straightening, jockey Booby El-Issa chose to switch Your Mate Jimmy out around the heels of the leader (Bifocal). The four-year-old then took a while to pick up, but he got the message in time and stretched out with meaning inside the final 100m to put the first notch onto his belt.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Your Mate Jimmy): 10.00 out to 17.00.
Favourite (Royal Saint): 2.20 out to 2.80. Finished eleventh.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Brolga Road (J. Bowditch) and Mada (D. Tanti) missed the start. Our Miss Hearst (Matthew Palmer) attempted to buck shortly after the start and near the 1000m Matthew Palmer was dislodged. Connections of Our Miss Hearst were informed that the filly must trial satisfactorily prior to its next race start. Royal Saint (G. Colless) hung out on the first turn and the horse continued to hang out, and shortly after straightening Royal Saint was retired from the race. A post race veterinary examination of Royal Saint failed to reveal any abnormalities. Connections were advised that Royal Saint would be required to trial to the satisfaction of the stewards on at least two occasions prior to its next race start.
Near the 200m, Indy Go Gold (J. Warrington) and Love And Happiness (J. Taylor) were tightened for room between No Way Grey (R. Wiggins) and All Kiwi (J. Wood), which hung in. A short distance later, both Indy Go Gold and Love And Happiness had to be checked when tightened for room between No Way Grey, which was taken out by Your Mate Jimmy (B. El-Issa) and All Kiwi, which again hung in. After taking into account the waywardness of All Kiwi, trainer D. Steinbeck was informed that the horse would be required to trial satisfactorily on at least two occasions before resuming racing. A post race veterinary examination of Electrowin revealed the gelding to have sustained an injury to the off-fore tendon. Connections were advised that a veterinary clearance would be required for Electrowin prior to its next race start.


Race 6:

Class 1 Handicap - 1100m
1st - So Different; 2nd - Bennike; 3rd - Sweed

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Todd Pannell: “She chased very well from the wide gate and got across. I was surprised how easily she got across actually. That put us up with the lead and I elected to sit one out and half a length off the leader (Leapin Lena). She travelled just beautifully. Then in the straight she kept travelling and just finished it off so well. I was really surprised by how well she went. It was a big win, considering she did it at both ends without seeming to be under any pressure. Not many horses can do that.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (So Different): 21.00 out to 26.00.
Favourite (Bennike): 1.60 out to 1.70. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
High Anxiety (S. Bogenhuber) missed the start. Mr Sugaray (G. Baker) blundered and almost fell on jumping away. So Different (T. Pannell) jumped away awkwardly and shifted in, making heavy contact with Invault (I. French). A short distance later, Beau Forest (M. Heagney), Sweed (G. Colless) and Blue Cruiser (J. Wood) were all severely checked when Invault shifted inwards. Beau Forest (M. Heagney), La Zaha (B. El-Issa) and Diasco (J. Warrington) were trapped wide on the first turn and raced wide for the majority of the event.
Stewards questioned trainer B. Robinson and jockey T. Pannell in relation to the seemingly improved performance of So Different in winning today as compared to the horse's previous start at Toowoomba on 26 December when it finished 9th, beaten 8.6 lengths. Mr Robinson stated he had instructed jockey Pannell to settle So Different midfield, which were similar to the instructions given to jockey J. Murphy at Toowoomba on 26 December, however the horse was tightened on jumping away and as a consequence was obliged to settle back in the field further than had been anticipated on that occasion. Mr Robinson stated that he had only acquired So Different at the commencement of this campaign and in the two starts prior to 26 December, the horse had pleased with its performances despite being beaten. He added that where possible So Different would be ridden similarly, and that whilst there was some improvement on face value today, the horse did suffer interference at its previous start, which may have had an effect on its performance on that occasion. The explanation was noted.
Stewards questioned apprentice A. Taylor as to her riding of Gazillion, in particular between the 700m and 300m. A. Taylor stated that the connections had instructed her to ride the horse back in the field from its wide barrier and to endeavour to take a run through the field rather than be wide. She added that after settling in a rearward position she was reluctant to go wide approaching the home turn and endeavoured to find a run between horses, however she was unable to obtain any runs through the field prior to the point of straightening, and after straightening had to switch across heels in an effort to gain clear running. She added that when clear Gazillion ran home well. Stewards noted A. Taylor's explanation and advised her that her ride lacked some initiative, particularly between the 450m and 350m where the opportunity existed for her to improve her position.
A post race veterinary examination of Invault revealed the gelding to be lame in the off-fore tendon. Connections were advised that a veterinary clearance would be required for Invault prior to its next race start. A post race veterinary examination of High Anxiety, which tailed the field after missing the start, failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 7:

Class 2 Handicap - 1350m
1st - Hearty Laughter; 2nd - Ladyswood; 3rd - High Dee

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Helen Page (who completed a double on the day with the only two runners she brought to the track): “This one is also by a Glenlogan Park stallion (Show A Heart) and, like our earlier winner, she is also out of a Rory’s Jester mare. She’a a full sister to Big Joker which has won a Listed race already (with John Hawkes) so it’s very exciting. In her last run at the Gold Coast she couldn’t get off the rail and the going was no good there. So we thought we’d get away from that and come here and we’re obviously very happy with the result.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Hearty Laughter): 10.00 in to 8.00 out to 9.00.
Favourite (Revered Ruler): 2.70 out to 2.80. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Two And A Kick (N. Day) shifted out on straightening and made contact with Go Nugget (D. Tanti). Shortly after straightening, Revered Ruler (G. Colless) attempted to shift out from behind the heels of Rory’s Rapper and made heavy contact with the hind quarters of the tiring Diamondsaucash (W. Clasohm). In this incident, Diamondsaucash shifted out and made contact with Two And A Kick (N. Day). After passing the 200m, Rory’s Rapper shifted out when tiring, taking Revered Ruler outwards, resulting in that horse again making heavy contact with Diamondsaucash, which in turn shifted out resulting in Two And A Kick having to be checked when forced across the heels of Ladyswood (T. Pannell). Both M. Heagney, rider of Rory’s Rapper, and G. Colless, rider of Revered Ruler, were severely reprimanded and instructed to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Stewards questioned starter Mr R. Corvi and jockeys B. El-Issa and N. Day as to comments made over the public address system by jockey El-Issa through the microphone placed at the barriers. The matter was adjourned to a date to be fixed in order that further investigations could be made.


Race 8:

Class 2 Handicap - 1666m
1st - Steady Poplar; 2nd - Uther; 3rd - Napper Tandy

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Steele Ryan: “I’ve always had a good opinion of him mate. He had a wind op before this prep and he’s travelling well now. I was very confident here ... and I’ll be sticking with Joe (Bowditch). He’s doing a really good job for me.”

Jockey Joe Bowditch: “Yeah, he certainly had the form to win it. He still got to learn how to gallop properly though so there should be plenty of improvement to come.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Steady Poplar): 5.50 in to 3.30.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
When restrained approaching the first turn, Buena Chava (G. Colless) got its head up and raced ungenerously for a short distance. Leaving the 400m, Whispering Gypsy (A. Taylor) was buffeted between Scoliera Street (L. Rolls) and Fly Misty (G. Baker), and a short distance later had to be steadied from the heels of the tiring Buana Chava. Buena Chava compounded on straightening and tired over the concluding stages. Trainer A. Bailey undertook to notify stewards of anything that may come to his notice that had a bearing on the disappointing run in the days following the event. Radio Star (K. Banks) and School Princess (T. Pannell) raced wide throughout.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed
All Winners, plus second placegetters in races 1 - 3, and races 6 - 8.