Ipswich Preview – Thursday 26 September 2024

Date: 25-Sep-2024

We’re all set for another Thursday race meeting where eight races are scheduled to be run and won.

The rail moves out to the 5m position with the track rated a Soft 5 at time of publish.

Our top selections in each race can be found below.

Race 1 - 12:47PM IPSWICH EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE Maiden Plate (2180 METRES)

3 Smelter

This is a tough way to start the day with none of these maidens having shown much enthusiasm so far to break their droughts.

Smelter may be one that’s closest to getting that mystical first victory after finishing not too far away in his recent races.

Two starts ago he settled a long way back over this course and distance before registering the fastest closing splits of the race to finish 2.4 lengths fourth.

Last start he put up a good fight over 2000m on the Gold Coast Poly track to finish 3.3 lengths second.

Dan McGillivray’s 2kg claim comes in handy.

Selections: 3-2-6-5

Race 2 - 1:22PM GREAT NORTHERN Maiden Plate (800 METRES)

7 Fifth Major

Fifth Major showed good speed to lead over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast on debut before dropping out with 200m to go to finish 6.2 lengths fifth.

The Chris Anderson-trained mare was found to be lame and also suffering from poor post-race recovery so she can be forgiven.

She can bounce back second-up and I do like the drop in distance given how she led last start.

Low draws are an advantage in these scampers so she should enjoy a nice run from barrier 3.

Selections: 7-12-4-1

Race 3 - 1:57PM BELLBOWRIE DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1100 METRES)

4 Carravilla

Carravilla returns to the races for the first time since finishing down the track in the Listed Dalrello Stakes.

The Chris & Corey Munce-trained Pierata filly impressed the start prior when letting down strongly to win on debut at Doomben over this distance.

She’s had a trial leading into this where she cruised around well within herself.

Blinkers go on for the first time which signals intent and I’d suggest Sam Collett will be positive early.

Selections: 4-1-7-5

Race 4 - 2:34PM IMPERIAL RACING Maiden Plate (1350 METRES)

9 Free As The Wind

Free As The Wind returned in good order over 1350m at Doomben two starts back where she worked to the line nicely to finish 2.1 lengths fourth.

Unfortunately, the Chris Waller-trained mare went too hard in front last start when stepping up to a mile and the Sunshine Coast and she understandably weakened with a furlong to go.

She’ll strip fitter third-up and the drop back to this distance looks ideal.

The booking of Jimmy Orman is a good indicator to her chances, and she should enjoy a nice run on speed for him.

Selections: 9-4-8-13

Race 5 - 3:12PM TAB Class 3 Plate (1690 METRES)

8 Blue Chip Girl

Blue Chip Girl has raced well since joining the Corey & Kylie Geran stable from Victoria.

The daughter of American Pharoah won first-up over 1300m at Toowoomba before a strong run over that same course and distance to finish third.

She stepped up to this distance last start and was doing her best work late after being held up at the top of the straight to finish just under a length from stablemate It’smemario.

Andrew Mallyon replaces the apprentice and should be able to give his mount a great run just off what looks a strong speed.

Selections: 8-6-2-10

Race 6 - 3:47PM SCHWEPPES BENCHMARK 58 Handicap (1690 METRES)

7 Aristella

Aristella gave a good sight over 1350m here first-up but was run down in the shadows of the post to finish a head second.

The Danny Bougoure-trained mare had no luck in her second run back this preparation before finding the line in the fastest final 600m of the race to finish a 0.7L third over 1650m at Doomben.

She got too far back last start but should settle closer here from a much better draw.

In an open race, she gets her chance now she’s at peak fitness.

Selections: 7-2-11-6

Race 7 - 4:27PM GORDON'S GIN BENCHMARK 65 Handicap (1200 METRES)

9 Remlaps Angel

Remlaps Angel found Rich Minx too slick for her last start when finishing 4.2 lengths third over 1110m in a midweek Benchmark 65 Handicap at Doomben.

Two starts back, the David Vandyke-trained daughter of Hellbent let down powerfully to win by three lengths over 1050m on the Gold Coast Poly track.

She should be at peak fitness now and did win her only previous start at Ipswich.

Tiffani Brooker can drive forward and control the race in front.

Selections: 9-5-1-2

Race 8 - 5:04PM RIVER 94.9FM RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 Handicap (1200 METRES)

7 Quest Of Quests