Ipswich in Queensland takes centre stage on Saturday, hosting its local Cup—the Listed Ipswich Cup—and two races in honour of influential figures from both the equine and human sides: the Listed Eye Liner S. and the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic.
Listed Ipswich Cup - Regal Lion for the double?
Our Lukas (NZ) (Generous {Ire}) won this 2150-metre Listed feature two years running in 2009 and 2010 - the only horse to accomplish that feat. One which connections of Regal Lion (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) are hoping he can repeat.
Saluting at 20-1 last year, the Annabel Neasham-trained gelding was on that occasion second up off an ordinary performance in the G3 Lord Mayor's Cup. This time around (carrying half a kilogram less) he is deep into a campaign having been in consistent form prior to finishing well back in the G3 Premier's Cup.
Regal Lion (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
The horses Regal Lion beat into the placings last year again take their place - the runner-up Desert Icon (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) rising 1.5kg on last year's weight despite not having won since (the 2022 G3 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley his latest success).
And the third home London Banker (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who drops 1kg has also been out of the winner's circle for a while - taking out the G3 Tattersall's Cup at Eagle Farm this time two years ago.
A lack of recent winning form should not prove a stumbling block for those three horses as they are not alone in that regard with the favourite Luncies (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) also out of winning photos for twelve months.
Luncies | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
He is however racing well, not far away (and fitter for) his two runs this time in. Also, in the market are Dune Forty Five (Americain {USA}) and Brookhaven (Spieth {NZ}) - the former having similar form to Regal Lion whilst the latter is up in class but coming along nicely.
Listed Eye Liner S. - named after a Lyndhurst legend
The next race on the Ipswich card is this 1350-metre contest named in honour of one of Queensland's favourite daughters - the state's 1967 Horse of the Year who took her outstanding local 2-year-old form (eight in a row by wide margins) to Sydney where she took out what is now the G1 Champagne S.
A successful broodmare with a 100 per cent record, she produced the G1 George Ryder S. winner Pacific Ruler and the Listed winner Pacific Prince and her family - one which also produced the four-time Group 1 winner Grand Archway (Archway {Ire} - still pops up.
“A successful broodmare (Eye Liner) with a 100 per cent record, she produced the G1 George Ryder S. winner Pacific Ruler and the Listed winner Pacific Prince.”
Such as with the stakes placed current 3-year-olds Harlow Rocks (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) and Harlow Mist (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) - both talented descendants of the Lyndhurst Stud legend.
First run in 1974, the Eye Liner has some very nice horses on its honour roll, such as the Group 1 winners Smokin' Joey (Encosta De Lago), Robian Steel (Steel Pulse {GB}), Lightning Bend (Cosmic Planet), Barrosa Boy (Synsky {NZ}), Masked Party (Marscay), Mighty Kingdom, So Dandy (NZ) (So Vain), Starglow (Comet {GB}), Sir Wisp, Plush (NZ) and Blue's Finito.
Favourite this year is the consistent Wategos (Capitalist) who recorded an impressive win at Doomben before a somewhat unlucky Listed second behind Yellow Brick (The Mission) at Eagle Farm a couple of weeks ago.
Wategos | Image courtesy of Newgate Farm
Victorian visitor Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) is also racing well as is the South Australian-trained Fancify (NZ) (by Manhattan Rain's 3/4 brother Niagara) whilst creating interest first up is Blaze A Trail (Criterion {NZ}) - the seven-time winner who ran third in this race last year and who is one of only 11 horses by his sadly sub fertile four-time Group 1 winning sire.
Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic - the favourites draw sticky gates
The final race on the Ipswich card is one of the most interesting, a 1200-metre fillies and mares contest which in 2019 was won by Ready To Prophet (Smart Missile) trained by the lady herself.
Waterhouse (and training partner Adrian Bott) have no runners this year but there is good depth to the even field with five different horses fighting out early favouritism.
“Waterhouse (and training partner Adrian Bott) have no runners this year but there is good depth to the even field with five different horses fighting out early favouritism.”
Bezique (Spirit Of Boom) - daughter of the terrific mare Karuta Queen (Not A Single Doubt) is deserving of a breakthrough having been a game runner-up at her last two starts whilst Midnight In Tokyo (Kobayashi) is another in consistent form.
Both of those girls have tricky gates to contend with as does Wollombi (Extreme Choice) who makes her debut for the Tony Gollan stable who won this race in 2020 with Solar Star (Zoustar).
Gollan has five chances here, Bezique also trained by him as is Typhoon Taavi (I Am Invincible) who has been freshened since recorded three dominant all the way victories in a row.
Midnight In Tokyo | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Yet another one of the main contenders in Party For Two (Sidestep) has drawn out but she boasts a good fresh record and has trialled well.
Listed Civic S. - Sydney's feature
The sole stakes race on this winter Randwick programme this race - like the Listed Ipswich Cup - has only once been won by the same horse twice, Magic Gleam (Rassendyll {USA}) successful in 1988 and 1989.
After a run of bad luck, Ucalledit (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) took out this race last year and the Kris Lees-trained gelding again takes his place having had things go wrong at his most recent outing; found to be suffering from the effects of cardiac arrhythmia when down the track in the G3 BRC Sprint.
He is bigger odds this time around, but his jockey Dylan Gibbons is in form, likely to still be on a high after his G2 Brisbane Cup success aboard Alegron (Teofilo {Ire}) last weekend.
Alegron | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Shorter in the betting is Tamerlane (Golden Horn {GB}) who has trialled nicely since his first up run and who does tend to race well second up - at the same stage of his spring campaign defeating Just Folk (Magnus) in a Listed race at Flemington.
Strait Acer (Headwater) boasts a consistent record as does Diamond Diesel (Mossman) who is racing in fine form at seven. Estadio Mestalla (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) is third up and she won at Rosehill at that time last campaign.
Listed Belmont Guineas - any future Group 1 stars?
This 3-year-old contest boasts a decent record of being won by horses able to go on with it in good company, 21 of its winners (it was first run in 1980) going on to further stakes success including the Group 1 gallopers Shot Of Thunder, Great Shot (Magnus) and Kay Cee (Playing God).
Like all of the stakes races in Perth, this race has been won on a number of occasions by Peters Investments and the cerise and white looks a big chance to again feature in the winner's circle with Luvnwar (NZ) (War Decree {USA}} who comes off a nice win at this track at just her second local outing.
Michael Lane and Chris Parnham combined to win this race last year with Rusty Dreams (Universal Ruler) and they could strike it lucky again with The Boss Lady (Street Boss {USA}) racing in great heart - though she will need luck from a tricky outside barrier.
Rusty Dreams | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
She was brave in defeat last time with her conqueror Brave Spirit (Brave Smash {Jpn}) again hard to toss here - looking to have plenty in hand taking out the Listed Raconteur S. a couple of weeks ago.
Up in class but showing talent is Petrouchka (More Than Ready {USA}) whose trainers Grant and Alana Williams have won this race on two occasions - with State Prosecutor (also by More Than Ready (USA)) in 2018 and Mystery Miss (Animal Kingdom {USA}) in 2019.
First-Season Sires - Flemington and Riccarton Park
Five different first-season sires are represented at metropolitan meetings on Saturday; three at Flemington and the other two at Riccarton Park.
Named in honour of Stockwell Stud's Ken Cox, the opening event at Flemington sees each of the runners by first season sire starting at nice odds.
Jenni's Meadow (Brutal {NZ}) is already a winner (one of eight) for her Newgate Farm based G1 Doncaster H.-winning sire and she looks suited up in trip having found the line well second up.
Jenni's Meadow (NZ)
Centre Square (Blue Point {Ire}) comes off a game second in the Elvstroem Quality at Swan Hill, his best run to date. His Darley Victoria-based four-times Group 1-winning sire has had four debut crop winners in Australia with five of his progeny being stakes placed.
Opening at cricket score odds is Peace Baby (Exceedance) whose Vinery Stud based G1 Coolmore Stud S. winning sire has two stakes winners - Dublin Down and Flyer - amongst his first six winners.
Meanwhile in New Zealand the high-class sprinter Ten Sovereigns (Ire) who shuttled to Valachi Downs on just one occasion has two runners in the third race, the Bain McCall Memorial.
“His (Centre Square) Darley Victoria-based four-times Group 1-winning sire (Blue Point) has had four debut crop winners in Australia with five of his progeny being stakes placed.”
He had just 44 foals in his sole southern hemisphere crop, no winners in New Zealand as yet though both of his Australian runners are winners, one of those being a Northern hemisphere bred 3-year-old - last weekend's Sandown winner Ten Deep (GB).
Ali Nel (NZ) has already raced, second though no match for the runaway winner Quintefeuille (Xtravagant {NZ}) at her Riccarton debut in February. Debuting is Ten Shillings (NZ), a trial winner from the family of St Mark's Basilica (Fr).
Also, facing the starter for the first time in that race is Bax Factor (NZ) (Super Seth) whose Waikato Stud based G1 Caulfield Guineas winner has two stakes winners - Linebacker (NZ) and Super Photon (NZ) amongst his first seven winners.
Centre Square as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bax Factor is a trial winner out of a full sister to the G3 Sky High S. winner Entirely Platinum (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) and half-sister to the Group 3 and Listed winner Foxy Blonde (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
