THE COMPLETE IPSWICH CUP DAY WRAP
By Graham Potter | Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Damian Browne arrived at the Ipswich track relatively early on Saturday morning.
“I left home early in case my GPS didn’t work properly,” quipped Browne, who famously doesn’t make the trip to Ipswich unless it is Cup day … and then it is only a possibility.
The good humoured jibes continued. “I wasn’t certain if they were in a different time zone here,” and “if you win what currency do you get paid in here.”
It was all tongue in cheek stuff from Browne as he responded to a host of greetings from those ‘strangers’ who were clearly pleased to see him, even if it was only for his isolated annual visit … and you got the real sense that, for this day at least, Browne wasn’t at all unhappy to be there.
But it is not just Cup day that he comes for. It’s all about business.
When Browne arrives at Ipswich you know he has a ride or two that will have a big chance of saluting.
That premise was true again on Saturday and by the time Browne left the track with a double feature race win (in the Ipswich Cup, aboard Maurus, and in the Eye Liner aboard Ninth Legion) behind his name he had shown that you can actually be the king of Ipswich racing even if you only visit the town for eight hours a year.
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David Vandyke permanent presence in Queensland … he recently relocated from Sydney … was always going to provide a boost to the training ranks in the state and he franked that view with Maurus’s runaway triumph in the Ipswich Cup.
Vandyke’s first runner after taking settling into his new stables at the Sunshine Coast was Look To The Stars which won at his new home base on April 23.
In all, he has now saddled eighteen runners in Queensland since making the move for six wins, three seconds and two third places.
His outright strike rate of thirty-three percent, albeit over a short period of time, does make a statement of its own.
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Two of those Vandyke’s winners, Maurus and Blackjack Bella, came at the Ipswich Cup meeting.
Cup winner Maurus had won at Doomben two starts back before finishing fifth, just 1.80 lengths behind Our Ivanhowe in the Group 1, Doomben Cup.
That was clearly winning form in the Ipswich Cup line-up and Maurus’s $2.50 favouritism and 3.50 length victory margin (it was 6.80 lengths back to the third placed runner) aptly conveyed the dominance he showed on the day.
Trainer David Vandyke: “He’s always promised to be a top horse. That’s why we ran him in the Doomben Cup because we felt he had the qualities to win a Group 1 race.
“He’s had four weeks between runs and to be so dominant there was outstanding. He didn’t travel well to the track. He was sweating up a fair bit and we just kept him walking.
“I think he was settled, but just a little bit nervous, as I was. He is just a competitor. He loves getting out there and competing and that is what he did. He would really have enjoyed that victory.
“It would be a shame to see him go to the paddock after that because he was so dominant and we have really looked after him this prep.
“I’m sure Damian (Brown) and myself would like to have a Caloundra Cup together.” (That race takes place in two weeks’ time).
“That’s Damian’s first ride for me. I hope it is the first of many. I think we are going to have a good relationship.”
Jockey Damian Browne: “He relaxed beautifully. I’m surprised how quickly he picked me up going down the side. I was just trying to work into it and he picked them up in two strides and put them away quickly.
I thought Jumbo Prince and Jimmy Byrne might get going at the 600 … and I was waiting for them to go. They decided to sit there and wait so I thought I’d get on my bike.
“It was four weeks between runs. He is going to improve out of that so … look out further down the track!
Blackjack Bella, Vandyke’s first winner on the day,
completed a hat trick of wins when taking out the Ipswich Mile.
The daughter of Casino Prince, with Michael Cahill in the saddle, prevailed by the narrowest of margins fending off the much faster finishing Outraged by the narrowest of margins. The mare is now two from two in Queensland.
Trainer David Vandyke: “I wasn’t watching the two leaders. I was watching what was behind us because I knew they were going along a bit and I thought, well, she should be strong to the line. She won over 1800m last start, but gee that second horse was getting there quick at the end.
“I haven’t had a look past this assignment. I’ll just see how she pulls up and I’ll give her at least three weeks between runs.”
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The second leg of Damian Browne’s feature race double came aboard the Peter Robl trained Ninth Legion in the Quality Listed Eye Liner Stakes.
This was Ninth legion’s third start for Robl since he took over the care of the horse from the Hawkes training partnership at the start of the year. He was never in contention in his last two starts, finishing second last in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at Scone and last in a three-year-old Open Handicap at Rosehill.
After the gelding’s facile win in the Eye Liner, Robl got the call from stewards to ‘please explain’ as outlined in the steward’s report.
‘When questioned regarding the improved performance trainer Mr P. Robl stated that its first up run in May at Scone the gelding only weakened over the concluding stages and did not handle the heavy track conditions at Rosehill at its previous start. He added that the addition of blinkers and the class of the race contributed to the improved performance.’
Trainer Peter Robl: “He didn’t have any form with give in the ground which concerned us. He’s had twelve starts on slow and heavy tracks … and even though this track was rated good, they were cutting it out quite severely … so I said to Damian (Browne) that’s my only concern.
“The horse was good. His work was good and he had the right jockey on. The track was the only concern but good jockeys get horses to travel through bad ground.
“Damian gave him the perfect ride and we got the right result.
“He was at the Hawkes’ before and they did a wonderful job with him. Realistically now though, he is probably at the Listed level grade so that’s the races we will keep him at … the lower level, rather than go for a Group 2 or Group 3 race with him.
“Hopefully now he has got a bit of confidence he can put a couple together.”
Damian Browne: “He was pretty good in the going. He was floundering around a little when I was locked away on the fence but once I got him into the open he was a different horse.”
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There was both a bit of good and a bit of bad for top apprentice Jimmy Orman on Ipswich Cup day.
Orman, who is embroiled in a three way battle with Jim Byrne and Jeff Lloyd for the Brisbane Jockey’s Premiership, brought home two winners on the day, the outsider In His Stride, in the QTTIS three-year-old Handicap, and Blueberry Hill in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic.
The Rex Lipp trained In His Stride, at $26, was the longest priced winner on the day.
Adding a little bit of spice to those victories was the fact that on both occasions Orman kept the ever hungry Jim Byrne back in second place. Importantly, for Orman’s title chase aspirations, both Byrne (who ended up with three seconds on the day) and Lloyd were kept scoreless on the day.
The downside was that Orman was found guilty of a careless riding charge in the fifth race and he was handed an eleven day suspension set to commence at midnight, 25 June, and to expire at midnight, 6 July.
Orman has indicated he will appeal the suspension.
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Blueberry Hill might have outgunned Elusive Catch in the Gai Waterhouse Classic but the result could have gone either way and Liam Birchley, who saddled both runners, would have still claimed the feature race quinella.
Not a bad effort when the first and second placed horses start at $12 and $10 respectively. The quinella on the local tote paid $50.
Blueberry Hill could be one to watch. The filly won three of six starts in her first preparation, including a win during the Winter Carnival in the 2015 Champagne Classic at Doomben.
Franking that ability, in the same preparation, the daughter of Myboycharlie finished second in both the Ken Russell Memorial and the Sires Produce.
She even took her chances in the Group 1 J J Atkins where she finished sixth, 4.50 lengths behind Press Statement. Press Statement went on to win another three group races before retiring to stud in April this year.
In this, her second preparation, Blueberry Hill took five runs to claim her first win as a three-year-old, but it should be noted that three of those runs were in Listed or Group company in races like the Mick Dittman, the Gold Coast Guineas and the Glenlogan Park Stakes.
Trainer Liam Birchley: “Blinkers off. Good result.
“Settled at the back of the field. Nearly over-corrected there and I was a bit worried when she got pushed wide on the turn but she finished full of running.
“I brought her back slowly. Then, when she was ready to go she had two runs in which she had no luck. She got crammed up the first time and then I put blinkers on and she took off … but this will give her a bit of confidence.
“When the downgrade of the track came that was definitely in her favour”
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Like Damian Browne and Jimmy Orman, veteran jockey Robbie Fradd also found Ipswich to be a happy hunting ground.
The first leg of Fradd’s race-to-race double was the Matthew Dunn trained Londehero who won the Ipswich Dash.
Trainer Matthew Dunn: “Very patient bunch of owners. His racing pattern (getting back) leaves him pretty vulnerable in most races. Obviously the way the track is racing here suited him getting home over the top.
“He runs well often but he is very frustrating. He gets a long way back and he only quickens well for about 200m and most of the time that is not good enough to win … but the plan was always to get all the way back and then show him some daylight in the straight.
"He can rattle off amazing sectionals when the race is run to suit him. Finally, after a long time, it was.”
The second of Fradd’s double came in the form of the Tony Gollan trained Amexed who took out the Provincial Stayers Series Handicap.
Trainer Tony Gollan: “It wasn’t the cleanest over the inside fence but he got the job done. I think unless you can get right out to that fast lane you may as well stay right in. There is no advantage to be in that middle bit.
“He(Fradd) rode him well. He travelled like the winner throughout the run. It was just good to see him get over the line after all this time.” (Amexed previous win was in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate in May 2014).
“There is no doubt he is the best stayer I have trained. I haven’t trained a lot of great stayers but he is the best of them.
“There have just been tiny niggles each prep … things that have gone wrong. I couldn’t put my finger on one thing. There’d be like ten things and when horses lose that confidence it is hard to get them out to that trip again if things keep going wrong.
“You can never get any continuity in the prep. We’ve got some continuity in the prep this time. He can go on his way now this horse and I do think he can win some nice staying races up here. No doubt!”
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“I would have been happy with a dead-heat, to tell you the truth.”
That was a comment made by David Murphy post-race after his horse Alassak, at handsome odds of $21, and Happy Event had flashed through the line seemingly locked together in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap.
Sky Racing commentators couldn’t split the pair even after a blown up version of the finish was shown on the TV screen and the debate continued in the stewards room with the connections of the runner-up seeking clarity on the matter.
To that end, as stated in the steward’s report, ‘correct weight was delayed to allow connections of the 2nd placegetter, Happy Event, to view the official photo finish print in the Judge's box before determining there was a clear margin, after which stewards then declared correct weight.’
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The well performed, John Zielke trained Worthy Cause, who finished fifth in the Ipswich Cup, was found to have bowed its tendon on the near foreleg. He will now be retired. The son of Choisir finished in the money in thirteen of his twenty-five starts (right up to Group 2 company) raking in $481150 in prize money.
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