Ipswich Cup - 2150m, Ipswich R7
The Ipswich Cup has, at face value, brought together a hardy mix of aging veterans, out-of-form stayers and a long tail, but a winner must still emerge.
Numerian is both at the top of the weights, with a 61kg impost, and the top of market at around $3.20. He was given an ordinary steer in the Q22 last week, settling back from barrier two rather than taking up his usual position just behind the speed, from where he has been extremely competitive at the top level.
The Annabel Neasham gelding is back several notches here, hence giving between 3-7kg’s to the field, but any of his runs in the Doomben Cup, Queen Elizabeth or Australian Cup will win this. If we trust he hasn’t come to the end of his prep, it’s his race to lose.
Desert Icon has been targeted at 2400-2500m races over the last few years, but all of his wins since being imported to the Chris Waller stable have actually come in the 1800-2100m range, so he might be better off back a little bit in distance here. His form has been very solid for a race like this, and he gets 4kg’s off Numerian.
The nine-year-old Berdibek, who also started his career in Europe, is in the frame due to his last start third to Without A Fight, who provides the best staying form around at the moment. It’s been almost two years since Berdibek tasted success, but he’s always somewhere around the mark in these regional cups.
Dark Destroyer ran fourth in the Queensland Derby this time last year, but after eight months off is now third-up on a quick back-up from 1600m to the 2150m of this event. It’s unusual, but he’s plenty talented enough to win, and we will have to admire the training performance of Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott if they can pull it off.
Seat of Power will have some each-way admirers thinking he could pinch this from the front, but anything else getting up would be a surprise. The bookies seem to have the pecking order pretty spot on here.
Selections: 1.Numerian 2.Desert Icon 3.Berdibek 4.Dark Destroyer
NUMERIAN
WIN
* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds
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