| What | Ipswich Cup Day 2024 |
| Where | Ipswich Turf Club – 219 Brisbane Rd, Bundamba QLD 4304 |
| When | Saturday, June 22, 2024 |
| First Race | 11:43am AEST |
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Visit Dabble |
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The Ipswich Turf Club will host its marquee raceday this Saturday afternoon as three Listed races headline the massive nine-race program. Although the track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, there is no rain forecast to fall in the area in the lead-up to the meeting, so it is expected that the surface will improve into the Good range. The rail will be in the +0.5m position for the entire circuit, with the opening race scheduled to jump at 11:43am AEST.
Ipswich Cup Tip: Encoder
Following a good run in the Group 1 Queensland Derby last start, Encoder will drop back to Listed grade to take on the older horses in the Ipswich Cup for his fifth run of the preparation. This three-year-old gelding raced at this track and trip two starts back where he had to carry 60kg and started to fade late with the big weight; however, he will only have to carry 54kg here and should appreciate a firmer track. From barrier 14, Damien Thornton will settle near last, and Encoder will attempt to loop the field from the 600m mark.
Ipswich Cup
Race 7 – 
#9 Encoder (14)
3yo Gelding | T: Lee Freedman | J: Damien Thornton (54kg)
+1500 with Dabble
Eye Liner Stakes Tip: Wategoes
Wategoes was very good when winning over this trip at Doomben two starts back before the Bjorn Baker-trained gelding finished a credible second behind Yellow Brick in the Listed Spear Chief Handicap last time out. This son of Capitalist has yet to lose at 1350m (2:2-0-0), and from barrier one, he should get all the favours and an economical run throughout. Damien Thornton will need to get off the fence on the home turn, and if he does, Wategoes will prove very hard to hold out late.
Eye Liner Stakes
Race 8 – 
#7 Wategoes (1)
5yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Damien Thornton (55.5kg)
+130 with Neds
Gai Waterhouse Classic Tip: Junqueira
Junqueira returned with a solid performance at Scone on May 18, where the John O’Shea-trained mare ran home nicely from midfield to finish fifth over 1100m. This daughter of Capitalist has shown throughout her career that she doesn’t particularly enjoy Soft tracks, so after being beaten by two lengths on a Soft 6 first-up, it indicates that she has returned well and she will appreciate a firmer track second-up. Barrier 14 shouldn’t worry this girl too much, as she likes to settle near the rear in her race, and with only 53kg on her back, look for Junqueira to be charging down the outside in the concluding stages.
Gai Waterhouse Classic
Race 9 – 
#16 Junqueira (14)
4yo Mare | T: John O’Shea | J: Robbie Dolan (53kg)
+1100 with PlayUp
Best Bet at Ipswich: Hedged
Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr have chosen to keep Hedged in Queensland after running home strongly to finish third in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes after settling too far back over 1200m. This three-year-old gelding will rise in trip to 1300m for the first time in his career, but given how well he ran on and smashed through the line last start, it appears as though the extra 100m will suit. With less speed in this contest, Vlad Duric can push forward from barrier eight and attempt to settle in the first six off the fence, and if he finds a back to follow around the home turn, Hedged should prove too good for his rivals.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#2 Hedged (8)
3yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | J: Vlad Duric (57kg)
+150 with Bet365
Next Best at Ipswich: Rockribbed
Rockribbed is yet to find the winners circle in two starts with Tony Gollan in Queensland; however, the form out of his two runs last preparation has stood up in better grade than this during the Queensland Racing Carnival. The son of Night Of Thunder was last seen finishing second behind Millane over 1200m, and that runner has since gone on to run well in Listed company. After a nine-week spell, this six-year-old gelding will return with the benefit of a trial under his belt, and if he can produce a similar performance to his last start, Rockribbed will get every chance to record his first win for his new trainer.
Next Best
Race 4 – 
#9 Rockribbed (5)
6yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: Vlad Duric (59.5kg)
+320 with Picklebet
Saturday quaddie tips for Ipswich races
Ipswich quadrella selections
Saturday, June 22, 2024
- 2-8
- 1-2-9-11
- 7-14
- 2-3-6-11-13-16
Horse racing tips
