IRISH ACE OUTGUNS WEALTH’N’POWER AT IPSWICH

By Graham Potter | Friday, August 13, 2021

Two days after the John Symons / Sheila Laxon stable had scored with Daintree Diva in a midweek metropolitan meeting at Doomben, Irish Ace doubled the stable’s score for the new season by saluting in a Class 1 Handicap over 1690m at Ipswich.

Irish Ace had put her opposition on notice when she kicked off her four-year-old campaign with an eye-catching third placing behind the useful December Diamond, who was winning there for the second time in only three starts, in a Class 1 Handicap over 1400m on August 1.

The daughter of Swiss Ace stepped up the distance test to 1690m at Ipswich … the first time she had raced beyond 1400m … and that proved to be a winning move by Symons and Laxon.

Irish Ace ($5.50) jumped well but then went back to race in midfield off a slow early speed. The jockeying for position began in earnest on the sweep to the turn with Jaden Lloyd opting to stay on the rail where he saved ground to the extent that Irish Ace had cut her deficit from the six lengths she faced early in the sweep to the home turn to just two lengths … and up to third place … on straightening.

When a gap appeared between the leaders Sejena ($15) and Wealth’n’Power ($9.50), Lloyd directed Irish Ace into it. It was still no ‘gimme’ but Irish Ace seemed to relish the task and, when Sejena couldn’t go on with it, it was left to Irish Ace and Wealth’n’Power to fight out the finish with Irish Ace pulling out the extra required to secure her second career victory.

Lloyd has been in the saddle in three of the six Symons / Laxon stable starters over the first two weeks of the new season with a return of two wins and one third place.

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