Meeting In Review – Thursday 26 September 2024

Date: 27-Sep-2024

The usual suspects came to the fore at Thursday’s eight-race meeting at Ipswich.

Queensland’s leading trainer Tony Gollan teamed up with Angela Jones for a winning double with their first victory together coming in the Great Northern Maiden Plate over 800m with Six More Songs.

The three-year-old filly raced three-deep the trip but that didn’t stop her from pulling away from her rivals late to win by 1.1 lengths and defy a nasty betting drift.

Ipswich rugby league greats Allan Langer and Kevin Walters are part of the ownership group with the daughter of Encryption named after Langer’s famous ‘six more songs’ chant at The Caxton Hotel following a Maroons Origin series win.

Unfortunately for Walters, any high he had from his horse winning would have quickly disappeared later in the day when he departed ways with the Brisbane Broncos as their coach.

Gollan and Jones joined forces with Power Ace in the Schweppes Benchmark 58 Handicap to register their second win of the day.

The 2022/23 Ipswich leading apprentice went straight to the front on the daughter of So You Think and controlled the race beautifully.

When they straightened for home, Power Ace skipped away before having to fend off the late challenge of Aristella to win by a nose.

Gollan’s double reclaimed top spot in this season’s Trainer’s title race and put him back on track to win his ninth premiership.

While Jones’ double gave took her to five wins for the season and drew her level with gun apprentice Bailey Wheeler who rode the first winner of the day.

Wheeler partnered the Neasham & Archibald-trained Mr Tadashi in the Maiden Plate over 2180m.

After enjoying an economical run on the gelding, Wheeler let his mount off the chain at the 600m mark and he swept to the lead.

Mr Tadashi was all out in the straight and running about like a drunken sailor, but he got the job done for a 1.3 length win.

Gollan and Jones weren’t the only participants to help themselves to a double at Thursday’s meeting, with jockey Callow also achieving the feat.

The first of ‘King’ Callow’s victories came with the David Vandyke-trained Luton Hoo in the TAB Class 3 Plate.

The Time Test mare was a firm favourite and didn’t let her supporters down in the 1690m contest.

After enjoying a nice run in the box seat, Callow stirred up Luton Hoo just prior to straightening and she let down powerfully to easily win by 2.05 lengths.

The lightly raced four-year-old is building a nice record with Thursday’s scalp being her fourth from seven starts.

While Callow provided Vandyke with a win with Luton Hoo, he was the reason he didn’t win a second time.

Callow gave the Rob Heathcote-trained Bad Education a peach of a ride to run down Vandyke’s Remlaps Angel and win the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1200m.

The Gold Coast-based hoop is certainly one to follow at Ipswich this season given he has won four from nine rides and boasts an impressive 150% ROI.

The performance of the day came from Larusso who was on debut for Jack Bruce.

Despite racing towards the back and wide throughout, the four-year-old gelding produced a dynamite finish to charge past his rivals and win the 1350m race by half a length.

He was heavily backed in from $10 to $6.50 with those within the stable justifiably oozing confidence about his chances.

Racing returns to Ipswich next Thursday the 3^rd of October.

By Craig Sheppard

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