Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich with form, odds and free tips
IPSWICH hosts the Queensland winter carnival this week with the Ipswich Cup and the Eye Liner Stakes featuring on the eight-race card.
The David Vandyke-trained Maurus is looking for some easier racing than what it has been facing at Doomben. It’s the current favourite for the Ipswich Cup which also features former New Zealand Derby winner Puccini and the Chris Waller-trained Dance Of Heroes.
In the Eye Liner Stakes, Trubia is the hot-pot after running against quality opposition in the BRC Sprint and QTC Cup at its last two starts. The inside draw and the light weight has punters taking the short odds and it looks a great chance in the feature.
Sportsbet.com.au has odds available for all races at Ipswich this Saturday, so sign up for the best odds available.
Race 1 – XXXX Gold Ipswich Mile (1600m)
Tony Gollan lines up Heart Of A Warrior which fought on well behind Jumbo Prince last start and this race looks slightly easier. The five-year-old gelding is unbeaten in two starts on this track and hasn’t finished out of the money in five starts at this distance. It prefers dry tracks so conditions should suit and it looks a top chance at $3.20.
Blackjack Bella is coming off back-to-back victories and they have both been very easy. The change in scenery has helped immensely after it struggled for 11th in its last Victorian run. It has won by over two lengths in its last two starts and the weight of 54kg will make it tough to beat. It is currently on the second line of betting at $3.80 and that price could shorten.
Brazen Moss has run four consecutive fourths this campaign and it has another chance to place here. The Tony Gollan-trained runner has won only twice from 24 starts, but Jim Byrne takes over the riding and it looks an each way chance at $7 after opening at $8.50.
Race 1 tip: Heart Of A Warrior to win ($3.20) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – Schweppes Cooney Handicap (1350m)
Always Sacred is a talented gelding which didn’t get much room in the Queensland Day Stakes at Doomben. Its start prior was a third placing behind Takedown in the Gold Coast Guineas and that form should stack up nicely in this. It’s a son of I Am Invincible which looks a nice type in the making. $4.20 being offered with bookmakers.
Dee Nine Elle has drifted from $3.20 to $3.50 in the win market. The Tony Gollan-trained filly ran second behind Themis at Randwick last start and it also finished second behind Kebede which subsequently won The Roses. It is twice a winner at this distance and although it is drifting in the market, it should be competitive at this level.
The move has come for Salmanazar which opened at $5 and currently stands at $4.60. The stablemate to Dee Nine Elle has won its last two starts by big margins and having Jim Byrne stay in the saddle is handy. It will carry only 54kg and gets the inside draw, which should give it every chance to win. If more money continues to come for it, expect Dee Nine Elle’s price to drift significantly.
Race 2 tip: Salmanazar to win ($4.60) at Bet365.com.au
Race 3 – Sirromet Bundamba Plate (1100m)
Sir Donald will be one of the shortest-priced favourites of the day. The Michael Nolan-trained gelding is currently paying $1.90 after winning by two lengths at Ipswich on debut. The son of I Am Invincible is well bred and the inside draw will make it even easier for this task. Jeff Lloyd in the saddle and it should be hard to handle.
Happy Event has had five career starts for one win and three placings. It finished third behind Candika at Doomben last year and it was able to defeat Oink to kick off this campaign. Those form guides read very well for a race like this and with Josh Oliver’s 3kg claim, its weight goes down to 52kg. Big danger to the favourite at $4.
Lauderdale should be respected after it won on debut. The Matthew Dunn-trained colt won by 1.3 lengths in a reasonable 1020m time which gives it a solid place chance. It is taking on two nice types so consider on an each way basis at $7.
Race 3 tip: Sir Donald to win ($1.90) Crownbet.com.au
Race 4 – Ray White Ipswich Dash (1100m)
Five-time winner Wicked Intent has drawn a wide barrier of 15, but it produced a good finish behind Straturbo last start and it won its only start on this track. The short-course specialist will likely try and fly the barriers and lead, so getting a clean breakaway from the wide alley is key. The current price of $7.50 is better than punters usually gets for this runner.
Irish Constabulary showed a good turn-of-foot to win at Doomben last start. The three-time winner from eight starts is facing a similar field here, but all of its win have come on slow tracks and conditions should be dry. Drawing barrier 19 with Sarah Eilbeck in the saddle will turn a few punters off, but it has shortened to $5.50 after opening at $6.50.
Upstart Pride is the $5 favourite having beaten a quality field by four lengths last start. It rises up 5kg from that effort, but it is the class runner of the field and the experience of Jim Byrne is a big help. The big field can throw up some surprises, but punters will likely back this runner throughout the week.
Race 4 tip: Wicked Intent to place ($2.50) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Stayers Series R80 (2150m)
Artibai has a disappointing win record of only three from 22, but the Kris Lees-trained gelding showed signs of improvement when second at the Sunshine Coast last start. The six-year-old has had four runs this campaign and it should be ready to show its best now. Punters agree and have backed it into $5.
All Clear defeated Artibai last start and it has the breeding to suggest the staying distances are no problems for it. The daughter of Authorized stays at the same weight as it won with last start, 54kg, and it’s another plum ride for Jim Byrne. Looks a good chance to go back-to-back at $5.50.
The current favourite is Caillebotte which is also bred to stay all day. The son of Montjeu ran second behind Col ‘n’ Lil last start and it forms prior came in behind current Ipswich Cup favourite Maurus. It will need some early luck from barrier 17, but it should be able to find a good position and challenge late in the straight.
Race 5 tip: All Clear to win ($5.50) at Crownbet.com.au
Race 6 – Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m)
Former New Zealand Derby winner Puccini opened at $9 and now sits at $6.50. The good push has come for the Darren Weir-trained horse after it ran on well behind Benzini in the Brisbane Cup last Saturday. The heavily-raced five-year-old hasn’t won in awhile, which is the concern, but it’s classy at best and that should be respected in an open race.
Maurus is a classy import for David Vandyke which was only 1.8 lengths behind Our Ivanhowe in the Group 1 Doomben Cup. Prior to that it was a 3.5-length winner and it can handle all track conditions. Drawing barrier 11 won’t be an issue as it’s only an 11-horse field and it deserves to be the favourite. It opened at $2.45 and has drifted only slightly to $2.50.
Dance Of Heroes has been well-backed. The Chris Waller-trained runner opened at $8 and is now at $6.50 following a start at Randwick where it ran fifth with 61kg on its back. It rises in grade, but drops down 7kg for this and its win over Hipparchus two starts back was good enough here. Not the best horse in the field, but is an each way hope.
Race 6 tip: Maurus to win ($2.50) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 7 – City Of Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes (1350m)
Saluter was a solid last start winner at the Sunshine Coast. The Robert Heathcote-trained gelding won by 1.5 lengths and it has winning second-up form. It has form in some top races which includes a second behind Fontelina in the Lough Neagh Stakes and a fourth in the Gold Coast Newmarket behind Bachman. $10 looks a handy price and the $3.30 for the place appeals.
Trubia opened as the $2.50 favourite, but is now $2.70 after a steady drift. The Michael Lakey-trained horse has won six from its 15 starts and it has five additional placings. Its most recent run came in the QTC Cup where it ran eighth behind Spill The Beans. This is a much easier target for the same stake money and it has the ability to get the cash. Only concern would be a further drift out to the $3 mark.
Royal Occasion is at single figure odds following a narrow win last start. Matthew Dunn lines up the five-year-old which has won six from 19 and that includes four from five at this track. That experience will be key here and it should get a nice trip with the light weight. Looks a handy hope at $8.50.
Race 7 tip: Trubia to win ($2.70) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 8 – Sky Racing Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m)
Equal-favourite Scarlet Billows is another quality Darren Weir-trained runner which is looking to turn around some poor recent performances. The five-year-old finished eighth behind Music Magnate in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and was 17th in the Sangster at Morphettville. It was a winner at Caulfield prior to those starts and it looks good chance if it can recapture that form in a much easier race. $3.80 available.
On the same line of betting is Serenade which has a tough time of winning. The Michael Moroney-trained filly has won two from 14, but continues to run close placings without crossing the line first. It scored a win at Ballarat when it carried 58.5kg, but that came in a lower grade and this will be harder. Always a chance, but it’s a bookmakers dream.
Gai Waterhouse will try win her own race with Echo Gal. The four-year-old is out of form, but will enjoy the drop in class. It’s not up to the likes of Spill The Beans and Malaguerra, so its chances of winning appear much higher in this. Chance at $5.50.
Race 8 tip: Scarlet Billows to win ($3.80) at Bet365.com.au