Meeting In Review 19 October 2022

Date: 20-Oct-2022

Wednesday’s Ipswich Turf Club metropolitan meeting saw the successful returns to racing of former boom horse Orbisyn and talented apprentice Jaden Lloyd. Steph Thornton enjoyed a perfect day in the saddle, winning both her two rides.

Unfortunately, the wet weather that is forecast to punish South East Queensland over the coming week arrived midway through the eight-race programme to put a damper on proceedings. The track was rated a Good 4 at the start of the day but was officially downgraded to a Soft 5 retrospectively after race 6 and then to a Soft 7 after race 7.

Orbisyn Back In The Winner’s Stall

The David Vandyke-trained Orbisyn began his career in fine style winning his first four starts. Unfortunately, issues concerning his hind leg saw him spend a year off the scene before coming back for two runs during winter.

The last time the talented five-year-old raced was on Ipswich Cup day in June when he finished third to The Big Goodbye. He returned to Ipswich on Wednesday to kickstart his preparation in the Sirromet Class 4 Handicap over 1100 metres.

The eyes of the Queensland racing public were on Orbisyn who was asked to carry 60.5kg first-up as a $1.70 favourite.

It wasn’t a pretty watch but the son of Rich Enuff got the job done…just. Veteran jockey Paul Hamblin had to hustle Orbisyn early to find the front. He was never comfortable in the run with Abdicating eyeballing in front. Hamblin tried to pinch the race as they entered the straight, dashing clear. However, the big impost and a tough run took their toll late and he fell in over the line with Shamaton and Spinning Spirit hitting the line hard.

Despite not having the best of runs, Orbisyn broke 34 seconds for the final 600 metres and was just under one second outside the track record.

Hamblin doesn’t get too many opportunities at metropolitan meetings these days but was pleased he was able to get the prize with this horse.

“I had to work a bit to get across but when I did, I just tried to give him an easy time,” Hamblin said.

“That horse (Abdicating) pressured me before the turn but I had plenty underneath me and was able to kick away on the turn which probably helped him win.

“He’s a very strong animal.”

Sunshine Coast-based Vandyke was clearly proud of Orbisyn’s effort to win following many trials and tribulations over the past eighteen months.

“He has certainly tested us in all different ways, shapes and forms,” Vandyke said.

“It was wonderful to see him win today (Wednesday). We have put so much work in.

“Jan McMillan, his owner, is just a beautiful person and this wins for her. I feel so good that we got him over the line again first.

“Paul Hamblin did a great job. He’s done a lot of work on him behind the scenes.

“He was overdoing it a bit there, he got challenged, had the sixty and half and he’s off a break so no surprises that he was a bit soft late but he got the job done.

“It’s fantastic.”

While Vandyke hasn’t considered where Orbisyn will head next, there was a big weight lifted off his shoulders seeing his gelding win.

“It wasn’t easy,” Vandyke said.

“He wasn’t relaxed but that was the right experience moving forward to his next run.

“I don’t know when that will be.

“I just wanted to get here today and win, so job done.”

Talented Apprentice Lloyd Returns A Winner

Apprentice jockey Jaden Lloyd had his first book of rides at Ipswich on Wednesday after spending the past three months out of the saddle.

The talented young hoop has been working hard in his time away. That was clearly evident yesterday with Lloyd registering a win on his first day back.

Following two rides earlier in the day Lloyd teamed up with the Paul Nolan Jnr-trained To Love Somebody in the final race of the day, the Oxley Golf Club Benchmark 65 Handicap.

With heavy rain well and truly set in by the last race, the six-year-old gelding started a $31 outsider.

To Love Somebody began well allowing Lloyd to settle better than midfield. Turning for home, the son of Love Conquers All swung wide to be the widest runner entering the straight. To Love Somebody let down powerfull to make short work of the wet conditions to run down Magic In Me to cause a boilover.

Nolan Jnr who names his horses after his favourite songs, was keen for the races to be called off with the rain falling due to his horse not ever showing a liking for it. He was glad post-race the race went ahead.

“He’d gone crap at his two runs on wet tracks,” Nolan Jnr explained.

“But he’s by Love Conquers All that love it and his mother Manic Monday used to eat mud so he really baffled me why he went so bad in the wet.

“Today (Wednesday) he was fit and his coat had come right but gee we were hoping for the best.”

The Toowoomba trainer paid tribute to Lloyd for his ride and was pleased to see him get the win in his return to race riding.

“It was a great ride,” Nolan Jnr said.

“It was good to get a winner for Jaden Lloyd on his first day back.

“Jeffrey (Jaden’s father and manager) said he’d fit enough so I knew with his professionalism that he’d turn up fit and well.”

You’ll Be Mist Continues Hot Form

Sunshine Coast galloper You’ll Be Mist has earned a reputation as a bit of a homebody.

Before today’s Nuturf Benchmark 68 Handicap, all of the four-year-old mare’s five wins had come on her home track at Corbould Park and she had rarely ventured anywhere else.

That changed today when trainer Darryl Hansen made the trip to Ipswich to compete in the 1010 metres contest.

You’ll Be Mist brought super form to Wednesday’s race having won her past two starts. Despite not winning away from the Sunshine Coast, punters showed their support for You’ll Be Missed backing her into a $2.60 second favourite.

The daughter of Headwater is a noted on-pacer but on Wednesday she found herself settling third last behind what was a strong speed. Swan Island powered to the front on the turn to add even more pace to the race which played into Jimmy Orman’s hands who was happy to let it all unfold in front of him.

You’ll Be Mist had some work to do in the straight but with the leaders tiring, she charged late down the outside to steal the win from Preach and Commandeering.

Hansen, who had recently spent a few months in the north of the state for their Winter Carnival, was pleased You’ll Be Mist recorded a hattrick of wins.

“She’s in great order, she’s going great guns,” Hansen said.

“When she was a little bit slow away I got a little bit worried but obviously we had the good jockey on her and he knew what he was doing and got her home.

“The strong speed helped.

“It was great to see her finish off like that.”

You’ll Be Mist took her record to six wins from 23 starts. Given Wednesday was just her first visit to Ipswich, Hansen may consider making the trip from the Sunshine Coast more regularly with her.

Birdonawing Heavily Backed In Maiden Breakthrough

The Annabel Neasham-trained Birdonawing had been knocking on the door of a win after placing in five of her seven career starts.

Connections stepped the three-year-old filly up in distance on Wednesday in the hope it would deliver a breakthrough victory.

Punters rallied around Birdonawing backing her into a $2.20 favourite to win the This Is A Conversation Starter Raceday 28 October QTIS 3YO Maiden Handicap over 1680m. She was the only horse the market wanted late.

Jockey Steph Thornton had to work early from the outside gate in the field of eight. Thornton sat second just off Dragon Song before taking the lead entering the straight. She kicked clear in the straight and while the margin was shortened late, Birdonawing had the race well in her grasp.

While Birdonawing was advantaged by the way the race was run, there was plenty of merit in the run. The win will give her confidence and she can go on with it now.

The second and third horses, Binding and Classique Gal, worked home strongly and will be getting their first wins in the not so distant future.

Thornton Rides Winning Double

As just mentioned, jockey Steph Thornton piloted Birdonawing to victory. It was her second win on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day she guided Better Times to the biggest win of the meeting. In the opening race, The Barn Family Restaurant Maiden Plate, she jumped to the front in the 2180 metre contest and was never headed.

The Daiki Chujo-trained filly dashed clear in the straight to put the field away by 4.3 lengths. The win would have made the drive to and from Ballina worthwhile for Chujo.

Thornton would also have been glad she made the trip to Ipswich as both her rides on the day resulted in wins.

Premiership Update

Six time leading Ipswich trainer Tony Gollan extended his lead to four wins on Wednesday when Da Party Gal stormed home from last to win the NEED A YARN? TIACS SUPPORT LINE 0488 846 988 Class 2 Plate.

The Gollan stable has won nine of 34 races this season at Ipswich. If he continues at this rate, it will be very hard for his rivals to stop him from winning his seventh title.

As was the case last season, the jockey premiership is being hotly contested. Heading into Wednesday’s meeting, Jimmy Orman and Ryan Maloney sat atop the ladder with six wins a piece.

Orman’s win aboard You’ll Be Mist today took him a win clear of Maloney. Orman won his maiden Ipswich title in the 2020/21 season.

Next Ipswich Meeting

The Ipswich Turf Club’s next race meeting is scheduled for Friday October 28. The TIACS Raceday is an important date on our calendar.

By Craig Sheppard

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