IPSWICH REVIEW (THURS, JAN 29)

A review of the meeting held at Ipswich on Thursday, January 29.

Race 1:

Maiden Plate - 2150m
1st - Bentley Blue; 2nd - Montaperti; 3rd - Brilliant Ween

WINNER FEEDBACK
Trainer Howard Wilson: “I think he’ll develop into a good stayer and he handles the heavy going, which is a bonus. I think in time he will be a mile-and-a-half horse. But that might be a little bit later. We’ll spell him now and try and target something like the TJ Smith during the Carnival.”

Jockey Jason Taylor: “Yeah, it was a good win. His previous run at the Gold Coast with Jason (Holder) on (also on heavy going) put him in this race with genuine claims. The other two (Brilliant Ween and Montaperti) were involved in their own private battle along the rail and I finished wide out. My horse wasn’t hanging or anything like that. I actually directed him to that part of the track on the assumption that the going would be better there. As it was, it looks like the track is paying fair all over. For a moment there I thought I had made a costly mistake, but it all ended good when he got there in the end.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Bentley Blue): 5.00 out to 5.50.
Favourite (Montaperti): 3.50 in to 3.30. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Tyrconnell (M. Palmer) jumped away awkwardly, almost dislodging its rider. Cinquacasino (T. Pannell) and Phere The Dust (M. O'Brien) raced wide in the early stages. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, Phere The Dust had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Brilliant Ween (J. Bowditch), which shifted in. J. Bowditch, rider of Brilliant Ween, was advised to exercise more care. Near the 1600m, Phere The Dust shifted in, tightening the running of Gangbusters (S. Scriven) and Tuscany Music (R. Goltz). Montaperdi (B. Pengelly) and Brilliant Ween (J. Bowditch) made contact on several occasions in the home straight. Gangbusters, which finished a distant last, was examined by the veterinary surgeon and found to be making an abnormal respiratory noise. Stewards ordered that Gangbusters undergo an endoscopic examination after exercise prior to its next race start, with the results to be provided to stewards.


Race 2:

Class 2 Handicap - 1700m
1st - Blickem; 2nd - Half Drunk; 3rd - Kinsmate

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Russell Pujolas: “She gave him a beautiful ride. The slight step up in distance helped a bit. He’s actually more a ten furlong horse, but he’s been a very slow learner. You put him in shorter races and he settles. You step him up in distance and he wants to run away with you. Last time I took him to Toowoomba and he just bolted. We’ll just be taking it step by step.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Blinkem): 31.00 out to 41.00
Favourite (Quisatana): 1.90 out to 2.20. Finished fifth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Ground Swell and Quisatana raced wide in the early stages. Approaching the 800m, Kinsmate (R. Goltz) shifted out in order to improve its position and in doing so made contact with Dan Ch’I (M. Palmer) on several occasions, forcing that horse wide. Dan Ch’I was then obliged to race wide for the remainder of the event. Blickem (J. Pujolas) was held up and unable to improve rounding the home turn. Near the 250m, Kinsmate (R. Goltz) had to be steadied when disappointed for a run between Half Drunk (D. Green) and Ground Swell, which shifted out. J. Wood, rider of Ground Swell, was severely reprimanded. Stewards adjourned an inquiry into the whip use by jockey M. Squires on With Elegance.
When questioned regarding the seemingly improved performance of Blickem, trainer R. Pujolas stated that at its most recent start in Toowoomba, the gelding over-raced whilst racing wide on that occasion, and he further added that he felt Blickem appreciated the prevailing heavy track conditions today. The explanation was noted.
Apprentice B. Evans advised that Quisitana failed to handle today's track conditions. Dan Ch’I was euthanized on humane grounds after the horse suffered a hind limb fracture.


Race 3:

3yo & Up Maiden Plate - 1010m
1st - Lass Ee; 2nd - Zooqalo; 3rd - Lindo Falcao

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Reg McKay: “She never really got over EI so we decided to give her a long break. She came back good. If we had better going here today I would have made her a certainty but, with the heavy going, we were not sure how she’d go. She did well, particularly as she was tested in the finish. But she’s got a bit of fight in her this mare.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Lass Ee): 6.00 out to 10.00
Favourite (Triple Ay): 2.80 out to 3.20. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Jockey K. Forrester (Manilla Girl) reported that his saddle shifted back on jumping away. Shortly after the start, Triple Ay (S. Scriven) shifted out, making contact with Basaltic Banne (A. Best), taking that horse outwards. At the same stage, Bagatelle Park (N. Evans), which had jumped inwards at the start, shifted in slightly, taking Lindo Falcao (L. Cassidy) in on to Zooqalo (R. Wiggins), resulting in that horse striking the heels of Basaltic Banne (A. Best) and blundering. In the circumstances stewards took no further action other than to advise N. Evans, rider of Bagatelle Park, that he must make a greater effort to afford his fellow riders sufficient room when in a position to do so. Near the 500m, Zooqalo (R. Wiggins) improved up on to the heels of Lass Ee (J. Wood) and had to be steadied. Bagatelle Park (N. Evans) and Manilla Girl (K. Forrester) raced wide throughout.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Finding Neverland, B. Pengelly stated that the horse did not feel comfortable in the conditions at any stage of the race and that when placed under pressure on entering the straight, in his opinion, the horse attempted to buck at the 150m. Trainer L. Morton was advised that Finding Neverland must trial satisfactorily prior to its next race start. A post race veterinary examination of Finding Neverland failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 4:

3yo & Up CG&E Maiden Handicap - 1350m
1st - Wynnum High; 2nd - Mada; 3rd - Nice Looker

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Hulbert: “He is a half-brother to Rampant Lion. He’s only had eight starts and he’s really still only a baby. Going into the race I didn’t think he liked heavy going, but I had a mare who I thought the same thing about once before, and she came out and won for me on heavy going, so I thought he deserved his chance. I still don’t think it’s his go, but I think he had enough on them today to get the result under a confident ride. I’m hopeful he’ll go a mile.”

Apprentice jockey Mitchell Speers: “He actually didn’t handle the wet well, but he was just too good for them. Ideally they wanted me to box seat, but the trainer also said that if there was no real speed I should go up to lead. We got to the lead without much effort. He got an easy lead for most of the race and that was it.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Wynnum High): 1.70 out to 1.80.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Flash Romeo (L. Cassidy) jumped inwards at the start, making contact with Mada (D. Tanti), resulting in Mada having to be steadied a short distance later when forced across the heels of Affidavit (J. Wood). Mada (D. Tanti) over-raced for a short distance passing the 1200m. Near the 300m, Dance Request (J. Taylor) shifted out, hampering Mythical (A. Erhart).


Race 5:

3yo & Up F&M Maiden Handicap - 1350m
1st - Zsazsa; 2nd - Flamboyance; 3rd - Verre Elite

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Rex Lipp: “She’s a very, very consistent filly. She’s always knocking about thereabouts. It was just a matter of time. They talk about horses not backing up on Cushion Tracks. She started last Friday on the Cushion Track and she’s backed up again today and she’s won.”

Apprentice jockey Brent Evans: “We jumped out positive. We were always going to be handy. I saw there wasn’t too much speed in the race so it was my idea to lead, but I was told to take a sit. So I did that. I just took a sit and she was travelling well throughout. I was just cantering coming to the corner. One took off. I knew I had it covered. I was cantering.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (ZsaZsa): 1.80 steady.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Donnas Fashion which was kicked by another runner behind the barriers, was examined by the veterinary surgeon and cleared to start. Gold Gleam (J. Kropp) began awkwardly. Flamboyance (J. Bowditch) raced ungenerously in the early stages. Donnas Fashion (B. Thomson) and Gold Gleam (J. Kropp) raced wide for the majority of the event. Gold Gleam (J. Kropp) was inclined to lay in when placed under pressure in the straight. A post race veterinary examination of Oughtarule (D. Green), which compounded after racing wide, failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 6:

Class 2 Handicap - 1350m
1st - Coxless; 2nd - Canyouhearthebell; 3rd - Hearty Laughter

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer: “The plan was always to roll forward today. Prior races today they were going real slow. With a five-horse field we thought they’d do the same. Bill (Baker) and I had a good talk before the race and we decided we were going to roll in front. With the 3kg allowance, it only had 51kg on its back whereas the favourite had 58kg on a heavy track, so we thought we’d make him carry his weight. Getting to the 550m, I just let her slip and it was a matter of come and get me ... and they were coming, but the plan succeeded in the end as she just hung on. She probably is only a fairly limited horse and those are the sort of races she wants, you know, heavy track, no weight, where she can bowl along in front and dictate things.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Coxless): 5.00 out to 5.50.
Favourite (Hearty Laughter): 1.50 out to 1.55. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Tomifuf (A. Taylor) was slow to begin. Canyouhearthebell (I. French) had a tendency to lay out throughout the event.


Race 7:

QTIS 3yo Maiden Handicap - 1100m
1st - Macedon; 2nd - Crysclang; 3rd - Kalinga Lady

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Lindsay Gough: “He’s got a little bit of a boy in him so he played up a bit. But it’s really his first day away from home. I guess it will either make him concentrate or next time he will be worse, you know. He is a relaxed horse at home. He did have a trial. We just haven’t rushed into him. We’ve always ridden him a bit quiet in the jump outs. We’ve never put too much pressure on him at home and we think he might improve a bit on that run. He’s a lovely horse. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Macedon): 3.10 out to 3.60.
Favourite (Carigano): 2.10 out to 2.30. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Due to the downgrading of the track to Heavy 9, stewards acceded to an application by trainer G. Heinrich to scratch Winged Ivory at 12.46 pm. Winged Ivory will now incur a heavy track bar. Macedon (R. Wiggins) jumped outwards at the start, making contact with Crysclang (M. Hellyer).
Kalinga Lady (A. Pattillo) hung out rounding the home turn. Macedon shifted out on the home turn, taking Keeler wider on the track. Keeler laid in when placed under pressure in the straight. Keeler (A. Taylor) and Suunto (M. Palmer) raced wide for the majority of the event.


Race 8:

Class 1 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Huss; 2nd - Brave Clang; 3rd - Your Mate Jimmy

WINNER FEEDBACK:”
Trainer Jim Atkins: “Glen Colless doesn’t make too many mistakes. I never gave him any instructions. I told him to ride his own race. He led all the way the other day as well (this was the horses second successive victory). I was very happy with the way he ran in the wet here because he didn’t handle it at Eagle Farm (two runs back). No, I haven’t got any runners at Doomben on Saturday. I’m having a day off.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Huss): 2.70 out to 2,80.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Due to the downgrading of the track to Heavy 9, stewards acceded to an application by trainer K. Schweida to scratch Exertion at 12.37 pm, and an application by trainer G. Heinrich to scratch Duntroon Dragon at 12.46 pm. Exertion and Duntroon Dragon will now incur heavy track bars.
Your Mate Jimmy (B. El-Issa) jumped away awkwardly and shifted out, making contact with the hind quarters of Blazing Night (M. Hellyer). Benny Angle (R. Goltz) was a little slow to begin. Brave Clang was momentarily held up on the heels of Benny Angle rounding the home turn. Lilyvale Lady (C. Small) raced wide throughout.
Stewards questioned apprentice S. Bogenhuber in regards to her riding of Brave Clang in the middle stages where it appeared that the gelding lost contact with the main body of the field. S. Bogenhuber stated that from her wide barrier she had restrained her mount to take up a position closer to the fence, however leaving the 1000m, Brave Clang commenced to lose ground despite her efforts, resulting in the horse settling further back than she had anticipated. She added that, in her opinion, Brave Clang failed to handle the track conditions until she moved the horse wider on the track approaching the 700m. S. Bogenhuber's explanation was noted.
Jockey B. El-Issa pleaded guilty to a charge under AR83(a), in that he disrespectfully responded to a stewards' direction to dismount from Your Mate Jimmy in the enclosure. As B. El-Issa had a suspended fine of $1000 for a previous breach of this rule, that penalty was invoked.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed
All winners