The first of three Listed Races on Ipswich Cup Day is the Gai Waterhouse Classic for Fillies and Mares. A full field of sixteen, plus two emergencies have been entered with two emergencies.
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Gai Waterhouse Classic Form Guide
1. WHATEVERWHENEVER – (7)
The winner of the G3 Moonga Stakes last prep, defeating King’s Rose who has had two runs back from a nineteen week spell. She got a long way back and never figured in the Silk Stocking when second to last behind Detours before finishing ninth of eleven in the Listed Bright Shadow at her last start. Carries top weight here of 59kgs and would have to improve on her latest efforts.
2. BOUND TO BLUSH – C Munce (5)
A consistent mare that started 3/1 favourite in the Bright Shadow Stakes after her second place to Sookie in the G3 Glenlogan Park Stakes the previous start. She led to the final 100m in the Bright Shadow before finishing seventh (beaten 2.6 lengths) behind Detours. Will go forward again and should be suited by the Ipswich circuit.
3. CLASSICS – (1)
Darley representative who resumed with a fifth placing (beaten 1 length) in the Bright Shadow Stakes behind stable-mate Detours a fortnight ago on a slow track. Had a nice run in transit first up and her chance but will be better for that run and drawn well here. Won second up last prep sitting up on the pace.
4. SHARNEE ROSE – (17)
Kris Lees trained galloper who was good against the track bias when sixth (beaten 3.1 lengths) in the Listed Ortensia Stakes behind Satin Shoes before drawing well and having every opportunity behind Detours last start in the Bright Shadow Stakes when second, beaten ½ length. Going well but has drawn poorly here and coupled with her strike rate, others appeal.
5. SKATING ON ICE – (3)
Got back in the G3 Glenlogan Park Stakes two starts back, a race dominated by those up front, and never threatened finishing thirteenth. Since then, the daughter of Bradbury’s Luck has comfortably won a BM 90 by 1 ¾ lengths at the Gold Coast. That was her first win in fifteen starts and, for a horse that generally races back in the field, may need luck from her draw.
6. PUNCH ON – P Hammersley (2)
She ran a career best when second up from a spell in the Listed Silk Stocking, finishing hard to record a neck third behind Detours but in two runs since, the Paul Balzen trained mare has finished well down the track in both the G1 Doomben 10,000 and G2 Dane Ripper last week. Better suited back to this company but on last week’s effort, would need to show significant improvement.
7. CITY OF SONG – B Avdulla (16)
A former Victorian galloper who is now under the care of Warwick Farm trainer, Bjorn Baker and ran a cracking race for the trainer first up, when fourth (beaten ¾ length) behind Arctic Flight (good again since) in the Listed Dark Jewel at Scone before finishing well to run fourth (beaten less than a length) behind Detours in the Bright Shadow. Avdulla has ridden her in both starts and sticks with her here. If she finds any luck from her wide draw, look for her to be finishing hard.
8. HIDDEN KISSES – B Stewart (8)
Good when resuming from a seven week spell with a ½ length third behind New Day Rising before being afforded every chance and out-bobbed by Cuddlesome in an Open F & M’s race at Eagle Farm. Her last start was in the G3 Glenlogan Park Stakes where she got a long way back in a race dominated by those up front. Doesn’t win out of turn and this grade, may find a couple too good.
9. DOUBTFILLY – (14)
After finishing eighth in the Weetwood at Toowoomba, she had a nice run in transit and enjoyed the heavy conditions to score a head win over Someday (good since) in a Class 6 Plate at Eagle Farm. Her last start was in the Guineas where she drew wide, got back in the run and finished five lengths off Sizzling. Better suited here back to her own sex and not without a place chance.
10. CUDDLESOME – A Allen (15)
Canny Lad mare who was good first up from a spell and at her second run back, led from a wide gate and held of the challenges of Hidden Kisses and Alcancia to score a nose win in Open company. She was then taken to Sydney for a BM 80 race but on a slow track with 59kgs, never figured and finished second to last, close to eight lengths from winner Elfina. Will go forward again from a wide gate but may have to burn too much petrol to do so.
11. PERON – M Cahill (6)
There is a lot to like about this daughter Husson who has won five from six starts and her two most recent races in impressive style. She finished from well back in the field to record a length win over Whitesails in a BM 85 race on the Gold Coast and backed that up with a long neck win over Tax Evader in a Class 6 race last start. Drawn to get a nice run in 6 and should enjoy the solid tempo of this race. One of the leading chances.
12. AMETSIS – L Innes (13)
Well bred and smart Redoute’s Choice mare from the Flemington stables of Russell Cameron who has had two runs this time in. The first of them was a fifth behind Elite Elle in an Open race at Caulfield before settling just of pace and proving far too good for her opposition in a Class 4 race, winning by two lengths at Doomben. Ran fourth in the Listed Xmas Handicap last prep in Adelaide, second in that race was Conservatorium and she races well this carnival last year. Stays under notice.
13. CRADLE ME – SCRATCHED
14. ZAMBONI – P Holmes (10)
A 5yo mare who was an impressive winner of a BM 85 race on the Sunshine Coast last start, where she settled at the tail of the field before finishing too well on the slow track and recording a 2 ¼ length win. That was sixth career win and all of them have come on a slow surface which, at this level, she would need to be competitive.
15. NEXT THE UNIVERSE – (11)
Only the two wins to her name from thirty-one starts however, on her day is a capable galloper as evident by her nose second in the G3 Birthday Card Stakes last year. She got back in a race dominated by the leader last start at Rosehill and finished seventh of twelve. She’s better than that and was scratched from Warwick Farm on Wednesday for a crack at this.
16. LOVE FOR RANSOM
Won her first two starts, the second of them in sensational style at Moonee Valley and has competed in some smart races since without producing a result. She resumed from a seven month spell in an Open class races at Doomben where, as she always does, settled well back in the field. She had no luck whatsoever in the run home and finished four lengths from the winner, My Shabella. Will get back to near last and around Ipswich, will need luck but should’ve been right in the finish last start and if the runs fall her way, will be rocketing home.
17. TRIPLE SIX – (4)
David Pfieffer trains this Dehere mare who interestingly, tackles this race first up from a thirteen week spell. She’s been readied for her return with two winning trails and her trainer has had success on this day in the past. Will get a start with the scratching of Cradle Me but with her poor strike rate of two wins from twenty-three starts, makes it hard to tip her with confidence.
18. GLOVE – (12)
An Elusive Quality mare who will find this tough judging by her four runs this time in, the most recent or which was a sixth of seven runners behind Dual Chamber on the Sunshine Coast Cushion track. Not here.
OVERVIEW
Speed in the race will come from Bound to Blush who gets her chance her to break through for a well deserved victory. The Ipswich track should favour her racing style and provided she get a cheap sectional in somewhere in the race, she’ll give them plenty to run down. Tagging her throughout the race will be Classics who, with a run under her belt, will be spot on for this. She’s won two from four second up and will get every chance from her good draw. Peron is an emerging talent who has a dip at Listed company for the first time and will apply herself well. With Michael Cahill in the saddle, she’ll be positioned on the turn, to utilise her neat turn on foot. City of Song at $15.00, the best each-way bet in the race.