Ipswich played host to three feature races on Saturday which included a narrow win by Tradesman in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m).
The Darren Weir-trained runner was coming off a second placing to Egg Tart in the Group 2 P.J O’Shea (2200m) the start prior and was sent out a short favourite by punters at Ipswich.
Settling just worse than midfield with cover, Dean Yendall urged Tradesman forward coming to the turn in striking distance of the leaders.
Running on well in the straight, Tradesman managed to wear down eventual second placegetter First Crush to secure a narrow win on the line, with All in Vogue, three and a half lengths further back in third.
Tradesman ran to a Timeform figure of 111, an equal career best having run to the same number in the P.J O’Shea the start prior.
The rising seven-year-old gelding joined the Darren Weir stable following the end of his campaign in Perth late last year and has finished outside the top four just once in six outings for Weir, winning two of them.
The average winning Timeform figure for the Ipswich Cup in the last five years is 107, with only three winners running a higher figure since 1992, 2017 winner Maurus leading the charge when running to 117.
Tradesman will now head towards the Caloundra Cup in two weeks time the same track he finished runner up Egg Tart in the P.J O’Shea.
Looking at recent winners of the Caloundra Cup (2400m) you expect Tradesman to prove very hard to beat with only a small number of winners running over 111 to win the race.
The last two years has seen Supply And Demand run to a winning Timeform figure of 105 in last years renewal with Amexed running to 103 in 2016.
2015 winner Indexed Linked is the highest rated winner of the race since 2002, returning a Timeform figure of 115.
I’m A Rippa has continued his terrific recent form with a tough win in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m).
Having won the BRC Sprint (1350m) three starts back, the Tony Gollan0trained runner then finished a close second to Snippets Land in the Listed Spear Chief (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast and certainly relished the slight drop back in trip to 1350m on Saturday.
Leading throughout with Jim Byrne on board, I’m A Rippa was headed by Tyzone at the 200m but was able to fight back and secure a head bobbing win over Tyzone with Privlaka two and a half lengths further back in third.
I’m A Rippa ran to a new career peak Timeform figure of 108, a pound above his second placing to Snippets Land the start prior.
The four-year-old gelding ran well above 2017 winner Monsieur Gustave (106) but below Ninth Legion who secured a one length win over Beckham in 2016 when running to 111.
Tyzone was good along the inside in second also running to 108 as did fifth placegetter Most Important, beaten under three lengths with 58kg.
The final race of the day saw Magic Alibi come from back in the field to win the Listed Gai Waterhouse over Foxy Housewife in second with Plucky Girl third.
Coming off a good run for second in a Benchmark 80 at Rosehill the start prior, Magic Alibi did enough to secure her fifth career win and the first since winning at Rosehill in July of last year.
Magic Alibi returned a Timeform figure of 97, one pound below her previous effort at Rosehill and the same figure as 2017 winner Maternal which is below the average winning figure of 100 for the last five years.
Arguably the run of the race came from Plucky Girl in third, who return a Timeform figure of 101 with the 58.5kg.
