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Meeting In Review – Thursday 3 October 2024
Date: 04-Oct-2024
Eight races were run and won at Ipswich on Thursday where the spoils were shared amongst participants evenly besides a Martin Harley riding double.
The talented Irish jockey notched up his first win in the opening event of the day when he teamed up with the Munce Racing gelding, Chamierro.
The son of Pierro jumped as a $1.80 favourite and gave his backers little concern thanks to an excellent ride by Harley.
Harley dropped his mount in the box seat before presenting him in the straight to let down nicely and win the 1350m contest by 1.2 lengths.
The second of Harley’s wins came aboard the Matt Dunn-trained Bravely in the Class 2 Plate over 1350m.
With the advantage of the inside barrier, Harley drove forward to settle fourth on the fence.
Leader Isle Ornsay drifted off the fence to present a run for Bravely which Harley quickly took.
The Zoustar gelding was just as his name suggested and produced plenty in the closing stages to defy the late challenge from Miss Chenery and The Punisher.
Local conditioner Bradley Smith made his way to the winner’s circle when his gelding Gypsy Tricks won the Class 3 Handicap over 800m.
Gun apprentice Jace McMurray won on the six-year-old at Gatton three starts ago and was again in the saddle on Thursday.
The 3kg claimer made full use of an inside draw to drive forward and lead before giving them the slip entering the straight.
It got willing in the final 100m with The Power Of One finishing fast, but the gelding had enough in the tank to win by three-quarters of a length.
The Class 4 Handicap over 1690m produced a stirring finish with three horses duking it out in the straight.
Starzam, Tambourine Man and Smart As Smart were three abreast as they charged home, but it was Smart As Smart that was able to lift under the urging of Jag Guthmann-Chester when it counted to win by half a length.
It was back-to-back Ipswich wins for the Renita Beaton-trained gelding.
Jealous was an impressive winner of the 1350m Ratings Band 0-58 Handicap.
The Rob Heathcote-trained mare produced a damaging turn of foot to blow by her rivals and win by 1.3 lengths.
The win kept her unbeaten second-up record intact and signaled that she is in for a good preparation.
Another horse that produced a super effort was Sir Leonidas in the final race of the day over the Ipswich Cup trip.
Apprentice Rob Thorburn snagged his mount to the back after exiting the outside barrier in the field of 12.
However, the 3kg claiming hoop didn’t stay there long and took off around the field exiting the straight the first time to take up the lead in the back straight.
The Peter & Will Hulbert-trained gelding had them off the bit and chasing as they approached the run home.
Sir Leonidas kicked clear and ran his rivals into the ground for a 2.1 length win.
We’re on the quick back-up this Monday the 7th of October with the club hosting a six-race King’s Birthday Holiday meeting.
By Craig Sheppard
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