Bart Sinclair rates the best winners in Ipswich Cup history
After four decades of trusted racing journalism, and 42 years reporting the Ipswich Cup, see what Mr Racing — Bart Sinclair has to say in light of this weekend’s blast in Bundamba.
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This Saturday will see thousands of racegoers converge on Bundamba to enjoy a day that has been embraced by locals since 1866.
For Ipswich people it is the day on the calendar. There aren’t a lot of events that the whole of the community can get involved in, but the Ipswich Cup transcends all others.
Having attended the Cup for 42 straight years before retiring, racing editor for the Courier-Mail Bart Sinclair says it’s a different race meeting. The point of difference being that it’s about the locals.
“You can tell they’re proud of the product. It’s great for the community,” he said.
“It is a day for the locals with an overwhelming atmosphere about it. It’s fantastic that Ipswich has such an event to hang their hat on.”
With the Ipswich Cup it doesn’t matter what disease may befall us, the locals will still come out for the Cup.
“They don’t care how cold it is, they will be drinking beer like it’s going out of style. The girls look refined going in and unrefined going out.”
No doubt the historic Ipswich Cup has grown in stature. With the new facilities featuring a convention area, the tone of the day has stepped to the next level.
So, ahead of this Saturday, let’s catch up on some history.
The best five Ipswich Cup winners Sinclair has ever seen:
5. 2006 —
Sphenophyta is a plant commonly known as horsetails.
This horse was a lightly raced New Zealander who came to Queensland for the Carnival.
Sinclair saw him run a race before the Ipswich cup, thought he had ability and latched onto him before he went on to win impressively in 2006.
After winning the Cup he came second in the Caloundra Cup, before Lee Freeman bought him and in the spring won the Turnbull Stakes. He then came 5th in the Caulfield Cup.
4. 1981 — Golden Rhapsody
Rhapsody was another New Zealander trained by Dave O’Sullivan. Sinclair said: “O’Sullivan was like a god in NewZealand racing. A real gentleman. And he (Rhapsody) was ridden by Peter Cook who was a champion jockey.”
“To get these people to Ipswich was a feather in the cap for the club. He was a very good horse,” Sinclair said.
3. 1994 — Oompala
The 1994 Ipswich Cup winner kept going right through without a break.
He won the tax cup in his previous start before winning the Ipswich Cup. He came third in the Grafton Cup, then won the Newcastle Cup before running third in the Melbourne Cup. Sinclair said: “He was trained by the good John Wallace. He kept him up all that time, which is very unusual.”
“To race through the winter and then onto the spring with the Newscastle and Melbourne Cup was just amazing,” Sinclair said.
2. 1988 — Burglar on Banff
Trained by Mick Mair, Burglar on Banff was a remarkable horse that won 36 races.
Sinclair said he was incredible, “The highlight for him was when he won in the Lord Mayor’s Cup”.
“In the Ipswich Cup his victory was a feel good win because everyone liked mick. He is just a knock-around bloke,” Sinclair said.
1. 2004 — Portland Singa
Sinclair’s best of the 2000’s was Portland Singa- a horse who had longevity and class.
Singa was a mare trained by former New Zealander Neville McBurney outside of Sydney.
She won both the Ipswich and Caloundra Cups in 2004 and came back in 2005 and won the Brisbane Cup before running sixth in the Melbourne Cup. She had a great form line with an even better trainer.
Lowlight: 2000 — Mushtak
In 2000 a horse called MUSHTAK snapped both its front legs about the 1000 metre mark in a fall that saw four jockeys hospitalised and three horses humanely put-down.
Eight horses fell in a field of 16. Seven horses went over the top of Mushtak.
Justin Sheehan was riding Mushtak and Racing Hall of Famer Darren Beadman was one of the jockeys to come down.
Sinclair said: “The last race was called off which was the right decision. The jockeys weren’t in a mental state to ride.”
“ It is a lowlight of Queensland racing history. It was horrific. It was like a domino. The leader (I Reign Supreme) won because was the one that escaped all the damage,” Sinclair said.
Bart Sinclair’s hot tip for the Ipswich Cup:
No.5: Our Intrigue
With Larry Cassidy as the jockey, and Chris Waller as the trainer, Sinclair believes this one will be hard to beat.
Cassidy rode the 2009 winner Our Lukas and 2004 winner Portland Singa. While Waller’s horse Danchai won in 2015.
“Chris Waller is the master of getting horses ready for feature races,” Sinclair said.
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