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Winning riding doubles to Boris Thornton and Andrew Mallyon highlighted our nine-race program on Friday.
Thornton claimed the opening event on the card when he partnered Kenshin Maru.
The Louise White-trained son of Snitzel was having his 12th start but was taking on 2210m for the first time.
Thornton delivered a peach of a ride, settling just behind the leaders before getting off their backs entering the straight and letting his mount charge to the line for a 1.2 length win.
The second of Thornton’s wins came in the Colts, Geldings and Entires Maiden Handicap over 1100m with the Paula Barron-trained Everstar.
It was an easy watch for those punters that took the $3.50 on offer with popular hoop settling second before the gelding finished off strongly to win by 1.2 lengths.
Thornton is a talented jockey who doesn’t get as many rides as he deserves.
Punters should clearly be paying attention to his rides, particularly at Ipswich where he has started this season with a 40% strike-rate and an impressive 290% return on investment.
Mallyon kicked off his winning double with Bengal Diamond in the Fillies and Mares Maiden Handicap over 1100 METRES.
The Adam Campton-trained filly looks to have her fair share of ability based on her win.
Mallyon elected to drop back to try to find a spot but that didn’t solve the problem with the daughter of Flying Artie caught three-deep in the run.
Bengal Diamond travelled beautifully and produced a powerful finish to draw clear late for a 1.3 length win.
It was just her third race start so no doubt she has a bright future ahead of her.
The Matthew Dunn-trained Winter’s Promise provided Mallyon with the second of his two wins when the grey saluted by the narrowest of margins.
Mallyon drove forward from the 1710m start to make full use of the inside barrier with the duo settling in the third pair.
The four-year-old mare was travelling sweetly on the turn and just needed clear air which Mallyon got when he got to the outside entering the straight.
It took some winding up, by Winter’s Promise picked up strongly late to get the better of Crimson Warning and win by three-quarters of a length.
Eight-time Ipswich premiership winning trainer Tony Gollan got his 2024/25 campaign off and running when Tipsy Tiger saluted in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate over 800m.
The Jungle Cat filly was on debut and typically did everything right for Angela Jones, leading all the way for a 1.4 length win.
Amazingly punters took a set against her with her price blowing from $1.90 to $2.80 at jump time.
Taylor Marshall joined Thornton, Mallyon and Jones at the top of this season’s Jockeys premiership when he piloted Parues to victory in the final event of the day.
The Desleigh Forster-trained gelding had been racing in good form and looked well placed in the 1350m contest.
It was a perfect front running ride with Marshall rating his mount beautifully to go all the way for a 1.4 length victory.
Unheralded trainer Greg Cornish claimed a share of this year’s Ipswich Trainers premiership when Lucky Alien claimed the Class 4 Handicap over 1100m.
Last season’s premier jockey Jimmy Orman went straight to the front from barrier 1 and never looked like losing, dashing clear for a 2.4 length win.
While it’s early in the season, it’s great seeing the Beaudesert conditioner’s name at the top of the ladder.
Other winners on the day included Hi Jules who won the 1100m Fillies and Mares Maiden Handicap via photo for Brian Wakefield and Sam Collett and Star Seeker who provided a winner’s stall visit for Kevin Devine and Rikki Jamieson.
We have a busy week coming up with meetings on Wednesday and Friday before the track undergoes renovation.
By Craig Sheppard
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