Latest news with #IpswichCup
Herald Sun
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
2025 Gai Waterhouse Classic: Gerringong for John Singleton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The party-style atmosphere on Ipswich Cup day may not be the ideal sweet spot for a 'delicate' filly but it is where John Singleton's youngster Gerringong can make a spring carnival statement. Larrikin owner Singleton has slashed his racing interests in recent years but thought enough of Gerringong to keep her to race, in partnership with some rugby league greats including Mick Cronin, Bob O'Reilly and Peter Wynn. The three-year-old filly is favourite for the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) as Waterhouse tries to win the race named after her for the second time in six years. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Gerringong has won two of her five career starts and what stands out on stalks is her effort in the $3m Sunlight 3YO slot race on the Sunshine Coast in January. She finished only 4½ lengths off subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry, with 2024 Golden Slipper champ Lady of Camelot the runner-up that night. 'The first and second horses in that race were two proper Group 1 horses and she wasn't too far off them, having a luckless run,' co-trainer Adrian Bott said. • Lipp out to fulfil $40m Lotto winner's spring carnival dream 'She was only having her third race start and also probably coming to the back end of her preparation. 'She did a remarkable job in that one campaign and she has shown improvement this time in. 'She is quite a delicate sort of horse but she has got plenty of natural talent. 'As she keeps getting deeper into her career and matures and becomes seasoned, hopefully we can see a nice progressive filly. 'She was showing promise in her early days so Singo was more than happy to hold onto her and some of the other partners (owners) he put into the horse were keen to race her as well.' Gerringong will have plenty of admirers in Saturday's Gai Waterhouse Classic. Picture: Bradley Photos • Warnie can honour cricket legend with consolation victory Gerringong has had two starts this campaign for two runner-up finishes, in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone and the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at Eagle Farm. At Eagle Farm, she got well back and rattled to the line. From a wide barrier around the tricky Ipswich track, Bott is hoping the filly can be closer in the run and show she can be a spring carnival player. 'We should be able to give her a nice freshen up after this and find something in the spring for her,' Bott said. • EXPERT TIPS: Graeme Carey's best bets, quaddie picks and race-by-race analysis for Ipswich on Saturday 'Last start, she was a bit slow into stride when I thought she might have been a bit more forward in the run. 'She does have tactical speed, so she may have an opportunity to be a bit more forward at Ipswich to try to offset the barrier. 'This race used to be raced over 1350m and I wouldn't have minded if it still was. 'I think we could stretch this filly to 1400m-1600m going forward, but she will still be good at 1200(m) at this point.' Adrian Bott. Picture: Getty Images • Uncommon James on spring mission after passing 'make or break' prep Sydney jockey Regan Bayliss will have the job of working some magic with Gerringong from the wide barrier. Bayliss has a strong book of rides on Ipswich Cup day including Osmose for Waterhouse and Bott in the Ipswich Cup and Eye Liner Stakes favourite Warnie for Ciaron Maher. Originally published as John Singleton's 'delicate' filly Gerringong to rock Ipswich as Gai Waterhouse bids to win her own race
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
‘As a party, it stands alone': Ipswich Cup meeting bounces back from grandstand fire
There were the dramatic scenes of a burning grandstand in the lead-up to last year's Ipswich Cup, but it has been far more smooth sailing this time for officials who are expecting a bumper crowd of more than 12,000 on Saturday. An electrical fire on Cup eve last year saw extraordinary scenes at the popular meeting with the main grandstand empty apart from the racecaller. 'Obviously one aspect we are looking forward to is having people back in the grandstand following the Cup eve fire last year,' Ipswich Turf Club CEO Nathan Exelby said. 'Broadcaster David Fowler cut a lonely figure as the only person in that stand last year. 'Restoration works were completed in October and we're looking forward to seeing our members and guests back in that stand for the 2025 Cup. 'The crowd last year was 12,500 and we are expecting a similar number this time around based on ticket pre-sales. 'The Ipswich Turf Club is proud of the role its TAB Cup meeting plays in the winter carnival landscape. 'It's not a Group race meeting, but as a party, it stands alone. Sean Tou played the role of fireman when he charged into a burning grandstand at Ipswich to save the club's biggest race meeting earlier this year and has pulled off recovery work of a different type in reviving the track after a recent renovation. ðŸ'‡ — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) September 15, 2024 'The combination of the infield festival and the 200m-plus marquee line along the home straight, it is a sight to behold and newcomers to the Cup meeting are consistently amazed at the scope of the event. 'The Brisbane Racing Club do a super job with their carnival, having positioned it as the launching pad to future stardom. 'Ipswich doesn't attract that same level of horse, but we run three very competitive stakes races and another (the TL Cooney) that is knocking on the door of being upgraded to black type status.' While the race day is known for the $250,000 Ipswich Cup, the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic and Listed Eye Liner Stakes are also key races. It might not be the Group 1 Stradbroke day that we saw last Saturday, but Ipswich has its own iconic spot. 'The weather gods finally tipped their hat to the Brisbane Racing Club and the Stradbroke meeting was simply outstanding,' Racing Queensland CEO Lachlan Murray said. 'Attention now turns to Ipswich Turf Club. 'Nathan Exelby hosted a Calcutta on Thursday night, the first time it has ever been held at the Turf Club itself and it was a good warm up for the Ipswich Cup meeting. 'The weather gods are smiling and the fields are looking good; I expect a great day of racing.' The Ipswich Cup is one of the most attended race meetings in Queensland every year.
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Queensland specialist Philipsburg hunting Sunshine State hat-trick in Ipswich Cup
Hawkesbury trainer James Ponsonby will shoot for three straight wins in the Sunshine State on Saturday when his Queensland specialist Philipsburg lines up in the $250,000 Ipswich Cup (2150m). Ponsonby had initially aimed Philipsburg at last weekend's Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) on Stradbroke day at Eagle Farm but changed tack after the seven-year-old gelding had an injury scare. 'He got banged up in the paddock and we thought we'd pull the plug because he had a little bit of inflammation,' Ponsonby said. 'It turned out to be nothing, which was good. He would've struggled to beat Campaldino (in the Brisbane Cup), the way it went. 'This (the Listed Ipswich Cup) looked like a fair race on paper in terms of weight conditions. 'He's well, although he hasn't had a lot of luck since he's been home in Sydney so I thought when in Rome, do as the Romans do – back up and try to get another one.' Regular rider Winona Costin has delivered with Philipsburg on two hit-and-run missions to Queensland this year, in a Benchmark 80 (2200m) at Doomben and then a Benchmark 90 (2212m) at Eagle Farm in the space of seven days in April. But in his last three races Philipsburg has struggled, finishing no better than fifth in three Benchmark 78 races at his home track Hawkesbury, Gosford and Randwick. Asked why Philipsburg loved the Sunshine State so much, Ponsonby said: 'It's the genuine tempo. 'In all fairness to him, he's no world beater but he tries very hard and when the weights suit him in terms of benchmarking, he's been able to run in races where he probably deserves more weight but because he's got average Sydney form, then he gets the weight relief. 'In Queensland he goes to sleep in those races where they run along and the genuine tempo helps offset the weight relief sometimes. 'He's just a genuine horse. The day he draws a right number, he'll more than likely get the job done. 'There's more than one reason why Australians want to flock to Queensland to live so you can't blame a Kiwi horse, can you?' Philipsburg ($34) is at long odds to win the Ipswich Cup, with bookmakers favouring Miss Joelene ($5.50), Diablo Bolt ($6), Osmose ($6.50) and Poetic Drama ($7). However, Ponsonby is quietly confident that with Costin in the saddle and carrying a lightweight 53kg, Philipsburg can cause an upset. 'It's a good, solid line-up. We're just going to need a bit of luck in running but if the tempo of the race is genuine then it gives him somewhat of a chance,' Ponsonby said. 'It's a good cup race, no doubt. He ran at Doomben so well, and Ipswich is similar in that it's an on-pace preferential racetrack, so I can't knock him. 'Going back and looking over the Ipswich Cup winners, they're invariably not always the best horse in the race but they're the horse that has the best luck in the race. 'He gets down in the weights to 53kg and Winona is going up to ride him so I can't ask for any more than that.' Caloundra Cup (2400m) on July 5.
News.com.au
16 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
John Singleton's ‘delicate' filly Gerringong to rock Ipswich as Gai Waterhouse bids to win her own race
The party-style atmosphere on Ipswich Cup day may not be the ideal sweet spot for a 'delicate' filly but it is where John Singleton's youngster Gerringong can make a spring carnival statement. Larrikin owner Singleton has slashed his racing interests in recent years but thought enough of Gerringong to keep her to race, in partnership with some rugby league greats including Mick Cronin, Bob O'Reilly and Peter Wynn. The three-year-old filly is favourite for the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) as Waterhouse tries to win the race named after her for the second time in six years. Gerringong has won two of her five career starts and what stands out on stalks is her effort in the $3m Sunlight 3YO slot race on the Sunshine Coast in January. She finished only four-and-a-half lengths off subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry, with 2024 Golden Slipper champ Lady of Camelot the runner-up that night. 'The first and second horses in that race were two proper Group 1 horses and she wasn't too far off them, having a luckless run,' co-trainer Adrian Bott said. Private Harry takes out the Inaugural running of the TAB Sunlight! ðŸ'� @mmsnippets @SCTurfClub @ndoyleracing @AshMorgan6 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025 • 'She was only having her third race start and also probably coming to the back end of her preparation. 'She did a remarkable job in that one campaign and she has shown improvement this time in. 'She is quite a delicate sort of horse but she has got plenty of natural talent. 'As she keeps getting deeper into her career and matures and becomes seasoned, hopefully we can see a nice progressive filly. 'She was showing promise in her early days so Singo was more than happy to hold onto her and some of the other partners (owners) he put into the horse were keen to race her as well.' • Warnie can honour cricket legend with consolation victory Gerringong has had two starts this campaign for two runner-up finishes, in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone and the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at Eagle Farm. At Eagle Farm, she got well back and rattled to the line. From a wide barrier around the tricky Ipswich track, Bott is hoping the filly can be closer in the run and show she can be a spring carnival player. 'We should be able to give her a nice freshen up after this and find something in the spring for her,' Bott said. That was impressive! ðŸ'µâš° Gerringong sprouted wings late under @clarkyhk and wins on debut for @GaiWaterhouse1 + some rugby league legends! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 29, 2024 'Last start, she was a bit slow into stride when I thought she might have been a bit more forward in the run. 'She does have tactical speed, so she may have an opportunity to be a bit more forward at Ipswich to try to offset the barrier. 'This race used to be raced over 1350m and I wouldn't have minded if it still was. 'I think we could stretch this filly to 1400m-1600m going forward, but she will still be good at 1200(m) at this point.' Sydney jockey Regan Bayliss will have the job of working some magic with Gerringong from the wide barrier. Bayliss has a strong book of rides on Ipswich Cup day including Osmose for Waterhouse and Bott in the Ipswich Cup and Eye Liner Stakes favourite Warnie for Ciaron Maher.
