Nothing beats the excitement of Ipswich Cup Day as we set out sights on three quality black-type races this Saturday.
A capacity crowd will be in attendance for the Ipswich Cup, the Eye Liner Stakes, and the Gai Waterhouse Classic, making up what is always one of the most highly anticipated days on the racing calendar.
For our thoughts on the entire nine-race program, be sure to read our 2021 Ipswich Cup Day Preview here!
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – 11:38AM – Sirromet Bundamba Plate QTIS 2YO Handicap, (1350m)
Balmaurice won his maiden well at Eagle Farm back in January and has mixed his form since returning to work back in April.
The Rex Lipp-trained two-year-old struggled to make up ground two back on a wet track at the Sunshine Coast, but he was seen doing his best late for second here at Ipswich a fortnight ago as a short-priced favourite.
I thought he showed plenty through the line that day and the fact he gets out over the same track and distance is a huge plus. From an almost identical draw with the winkers on, he should be much improved.
Race 2 – 12:13PM – Benchmark 80 Handicap, (1666m)
Masaff won over a touch further here at Ipswich by a big margin two runs back before venturing to Eagle Farm a fortnight ago to finish a clear third to Incentivise in a very competitive race.
Chris Waller’s five-year-old looks capable of bouncing back with plenty of fitness on his side and he has also drawn to get the gun run under Jim Byrne from barrier 2.
We’ve seen him show a real turn of foot in the past, and with this race looking a little easier compared to his last start in Brisbane, he should prove hard to beat.
Race 3 – 12:48pm – Benchmark 78 Handicap, (2500m)
All eyes will be on Steve Tregea’s impressive four-year-old Incentivise as he looks to extend his winning streak to five.
The son of Shamus Award has won his last two starts at Toowoomba and Eagle Farm by a combined 16 lengths, and although he does have some work to do from the awkward draw on Saturday, he should be winning this if Anthony Allen can shuffle across early.
This is his toughest assignment to date, but with a $1.20 on offer at time of publish, I’m really not prepared to take him on.
Race 4 – 1:23pm – No Metro Wins Handicap, (1350m)
Capacity field lining up here and it certainly isn’t an easy race for punters to navigate.
That said, I’m with the favourite Luna Mia on top as she looks to improve on her first-up assignment in the Listed Helen Coghlan Stakes at Eagle Farm over shorter.
The mare out of Redoute’s Choice finished 12th that day, but it’s worth noting she was only three lengths off the winner Exhilarates. The form out of that contest reads well for this, and so too does the fact she’s won twice second-up previously.
Back in grade and some fitness now on her side, the current $4.20 quote looks a steal.
Race 5 – 1:58pm – Schweppes TL Cooney 2YO, (1350m)
Willing to five Palladas the benefit of the doubt following a very bold effort for fourth a few weeks ago behind Apache Chase in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm.
Tony Gollan’s three-year-old really made up some good ground from midfield that day and the fact he won his maiden over this track and trip last year also reads well.
The form out of the Fred Best has since been franked with Ayrton going on to win the Gunsynd last week, so all things considered, I think the current price is great value.
Race 6 – 2:37pm – River 949FM Class 6 Plate, (1200m)
Really hard to knock the fresh form of Desert Lord, who returns to the races for the first time since running second at Doomben in a Class 6 back in January.
The son of High Chaparral is a two-time winner first-up from a spell and he did look in superb order a couple of weeks ago in a trial at the Sunshine Coast. Ryan Maloney knows him inside and out and I can’t find any reason why he won’t win this.
Dr Why Not is also worth something small each-way again. He loomed late in a much tougher race last time out at Eagle Farm but was just gunned down by Genzai The Wolf on the line. As a four-time winner over this distance, he’s tough to fault.
Race 7 – 3:17pm – Listed Ipswich Cup, (2150m)
So You Win is a dual acceptor at Rosehill, but if he lines up here I think he’ll prove tough to beat on the quick backup.
The son of So You Think has been racing well without winning this time in work and wasn’t far off Ranier last week in the Listed Wayne Wilson at Eagle Farm for fourth.
He’s won previously on the short turnaround, and based on the way he hit the line last week, he should appreciate getting out over further now. Look for him late.
Race 8 – 3:53pm – Listed City of Ipswich Eye Line Stakes, (1350m)
Axe has drawn wide once again, but that really hasn’t stopped him from running some big races in the past.
The four-year-old son of Written Tycoon won two back at Doomben by a big margin and was far from disgraced from a wide gate when third to Emerald Kingdom in the Group 3 BRC Sprint.
Michael Costa’s gelding also opened his prep with a win here at Ipswich over shorter where he gapped his rivals by three lengths. We know he likes to race on speed, so if he can get across early, he should give the others something to chase.
Race 9 – 4:36pm – Listed Ipswich Turf Club Gai Waterhouse Classic, (1200m)
A typically wide-open field will lineup in the Gai Waterhouse Classic with both Boomtown Lass and Lillemor jostling for favouritism as I type.
I’m with the former after she resumed to run second to Usmanov in the Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm a couple of weeks ago,
The five-year-old mare out of Spirit Of Boom looked home as the short-priced favourite at one stage but just weakened out over the final furlong.
Fitter now and back out to her preferred distance where she’s found the money on 10 occasions, she should prove hard to beat.