Ipswich racing preview, best bets & quaddie tips | May 17, 2023
| What | Ipswich Races |
| Where | Ipswich Turf Club – 219 Brisbane Rd, Bundamba QLD 4304 |
| When | Wednesday, May 17, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:33pm AEST |
Ipswich Turf Club will host another midweek metropolitan meeting this Wednesday afternoon with a very competitive eight-race card kicking off at 12:33pm. At the time of writing, the track is rated a Soft 6; however, the forecast says we could get anywhere between 2mm and 35mm of rain on Tuesday, meaning the meeting could be in jeopardy. The rail has been pushed out to the +8m position for the entire circuit, which will play favourably to leaders early in the day.
Best Bet at Ipswich: Divine Purpose
Looking at the lone staying event on the program, the Clinton Taylor-trained Divine Purpose has won four of her seven starts to date. This three-year-old filly won four of her first five starts in Central Queensland before coming down to Brisbane to race in the Listed Princess Stakes at Doomben two starts back, where she sat outside the leader and faded through the field to run last. However, in her last start at Eagle Farm on May 3 over 1800m, this daughter of Divine Prophet was very brave at her first attempt at the trip, boxing on for second behind Mishani Spartan, who she will meet again on Wednesday. Ben Thompson rode this girl last start and has chosen to stick with her again, so from barrier six we expect Thompson to push forward and settle outside the likely leader Sacred Mission, or even Mishani Spartan if he chooses to push forward again. Divine Purpose will be having her first crack at 2200m, so if she can get a nice run in transit, she should be very hard to beat.
Best Bet
Race 7 – 
#3 Divine Purpose (6)
3yo Filly | T: Clinton Taylor | J: Ben Thompson (56kg)
Next Best at Ipswich: Black Minto
The second race of the day will be a 2YO Fillies Maiden Plate, where the Les Kelly-trained Black Minto is bursting to win a race after finishing second three times throughout her five-start career. At her most recent run, this daughter of Spill The Beans finished second behind Masterplan over 1200m at Kilcoy on May 4, where she settled behind the leading duo and worked home nicely do go down by just under a length and beat the rest of the field by some margin. With this filly staying at 1200m and finding another Soft track, this could be her best chance yet to break her maiden. Matthew McGillivray will be legged aboard for his first ride on this girl, and if he can find the back of the leaders and slot in from barrier nine, he will give Black Minto every possible chance to find the winner’s circle for the first time.
Next Best
Race 2 – 
#4 Black Minto (9)
2yo Filly | T: Les Kelly | J: Matthew McGillivray (57kg)
Best Value at Ipswich: Pick Za Beans
The fifth race of the day will see Pick Za Beans from the Jack Bruce yard go around in the Class 3 Handicap over 1700m seeking back-to-back wins at Ipswich. Last start, this four-year-old mare was well backed and had to make a searching run around the field from second-last to then battle it out with the eventual runner-up down the home straight and get the better of Daedalus in the final strides to record a narrow win. This daughter of Spill The Beans would have run further than any of her rivals last start and won the race, and the step up to 1700m on Wednesday shouldn’t be any worry for her. Samantha Collett has ridden this mare at all three of her runs this time in, and from barrier two she should be able to hold a nice position in the mid-field off the fence. If Pick Za Beans can get a bit of luck in running, she is sure to be coming home strong.
Best Value
Race 5 – 
#12 Pick Za Beans (2)
4yo Mare | T: Jack Bruce | J: Samantha Collett (54kg)
Wednesday quaddie picks for Ipswich races
Ipswich quadrella selections
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
- 2-3-4-12
- 6-7-9-12
- 3-4-5
- 2-3-9-10-16
Investment: $240 for 100%