Ipswich hosts a nine-race card with the Ipswich Cup as the main feature race. The first race commences at 11:43am AEST and the last concludes at 4:30pm AEST. rail is out 0.5m the entirety – selections are for a GOOD track with fine weather predicted – watch and monitor for any pattern if possible.
Check out Shannon Buckley’s best bets for Ipswich below, and be sure to head over to our Racing Tips page for more free tips from around the country this Saturday!
Ipswich Racing Tips: Saturday, June 22nd 2024
Race 6: Schweppes T L Cooney 1350m – 2:38pm (AEST)
(3) Golden Decade $6.00/$2.10: I think he represents a bit of value in the race and is a great e/w play. He was a strong winner first-up over 1300m when he ran by INHIBITIONS (ties in with key rivals MISS ARIA and HEDGED) with good gaps in behind. He then went to 1350m second-up and he was plain to the eye, but still only finished 1.3L off them. They went to 1400m LS in the Fred Best Classic and he looked a genuine winning chance at the 300m but found a few too good for him (stuck on well). He finished within a length of STEFI MAGNETICA who since won the G1 Stradbroke Hcp last week and he beat home BASES LOADED who also won the G3 Gunsyd Classic last week (strong form race). He maps beautifully from gate 1 to camp behind the leaders / sit OSL, he has a good record at the track, goes well on good tracks, and I think he’ll likely have a head start on key rivals HEDGED, CIFRADO and MISS ARIA. I expect him to be hard to get past.
(2) Hedged $2.60: 3YO who has been very consistent and probably should’ve finished closer last start after being held up. Rock hard fit and once again a main danger. Distance a query?
(8) Miss Aria $5.50: 3YO Filly who has been winning well coming from the rear. Loves this trip and the soft track. Consider again here.
(3) Golden Decade E/W
$6.00/$2.10 (1 Unit)
Race 7: Tab Ipswich Cup 2150m 3:17pm (AEST)
(5) Dune Forty Five $9.00/$3.00: a tricky race to dissect, but I think this fella can bounce back from his LS performance where he whacked away behind HEZASHOCKA et al after doing some work early caught 3WNC. Although he was ordinary to the eye, they went some 10.9L quicker than benchmark to the 600m mark and he was still the 4th best L200m split of the race. Before that, he ran well behind SPIRIT RIDGE running third beaten 1L (he went by key rival REGAL LION easily). I think he has a few ticks in his favour today getting back on top of the ground, dropping back to 2150m, and drawing gate 3 for the in-form Vlad Duric. He maps to settle better than midfield and I doubt he’ll be caught wide without cover. Nice value hope.
(1) Luncies $3.90: The early favourite for the cup who hasn’t been all that bad with his two runs this prep. Concerns that he has top weight and is yet to run the drum when being third up. Watch the market.
(10) Regal Lion $5.00/$2.00: Won this race last year, so deserves a spot. Beaten easily last start though. Worth thought for the exotics.
(5) Dune Forty Five E/W
$9.00/$3.00 (1 Unit)
Race 8: Imperial Racing Eye Liner Stakes 3:53pm (AEST)
(7) Wategos $2.50: best bet of the day! We were with him LS and he was very good in defeat after being held-up at a key stage turning for home while the eventual winner YELLOW BRICK was in clear running with full momentum. He had the best L200m split of the race and beat home COASTWATCH who since ran second to FREEDOM RALLY in track record time. The start before that he was a dominant winner over 1350m with 61kgs on his back. He drops back to 1350m today, draws gate 1 for Thornton to stalk the speed, the race is no harder than LS, and his key danger in the market (FANCIFY) has a sticky gate to contend with. Looks hard to beat.
(3) Blaze A Trail $8.50: resuming 6YO who was terrific last prep. Proven first up and over this trip, so must be considered here. Resumes off two trials so will be fit enough and unbeaten when Maloney has steered.
(4) Petronius $23.00/$4.60: Roughie of the race who loves this trip. Fitter now for this fourth up run and goes well on the soft. Angela Jones a nice booking. Over the odds?
(7) Wategos
$2.50 (4 Units)
