Ipswich Cup – 14 June 2008

The Queensland Winter Carnival moves to Ipswich on Saturday and the feature race is the Listed $200,000 XXXX Gold Ipswich Cup over 2150 metres.

The handicap race has a field of 11 with the Gai Waterhouse trained Bianca being the baby of the field at four years old and also the only mare in the race. Bianca has been racing in shorter races after failing in last year’s Tatts Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm.

New Zealand gelding El Perez looks a strong hope in the race as the track is expected to be rain affected. El Perez has started nine times on heavy tracks for six wins and two places, and won his last start by over 3 lengths carrying topweight on a heavy track in a 2200 metre race in New Zealand. He will be ridden by Glen Colless.

Promising five-year-old Synonym faces a weight drop but a class rise, and trainer Gerald Ryan has booked Brisbane’s leading jockey Jim Byrne to ride him. Other chances are topweight Spinney, Stormhill, Rampant Lion and Art Success, although Spinney is an unlikely starter if the track is heavy.

The winner of the 2007 Ipswich Cup was Sculptor.

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