Hatch unearths smart Lass at Ipswich

THE money was right with debutant Kirra Lass scoring an easy win at Ipswich today.

Jockey Nathan Fazackerley after winning race one with Vibrato at Clifford Park, Saturday, April 13, 2019.

RACING: It was a short and sharp day at the office for Lindsay Hatch at Ipswich yesterday.

The Toowoomba trainer had just the two horses engaged for the Easter Monday meeting in the opening event on the card.

He couldn't have had a better possible result, with Kirra Lass ($4 fav) bolting in on debut ahead of Spiritomo ($10) to fill out the quinella in the QTIS Two-Years-Old Maiden Plate (800m).

The winner was the subject of a sustained push in the market, while the runner-up drifted out to as much as $12.

Kirra Lass started strongly from a wide gate, with Nathan Fazackerley able to put the filly on the pace and never give another a look in.

Spiritomo was only fairly well from the inside barrier and had to be urged up to take a forward position, however finished strongly to end up a length and a quarter behind her stablemate, with a one and three quarter length gap back to third.

"She's a really nice filly the winner," Hatch said.

"We've nursed her along to this stage and she goes terrific.

"I was surprised with the speed she showed. I thought something might've kicked up and led. That was the plan to just sit outside.

"She ran second in an early two-year-old jumpout behind a talented one of Stephen Kirkwood."

Hatch said that he was impressed with the debut effort of Spiritomo.

"She was a good performance and her last jumpout was terrific," he said.

"We expected her to go well but thought the winner was the better of the two."

It proved to be the start of another strong day for Toowoomba trainers in the Metro South West zone, with Michael Frappell's In Agreement ($7.50) getting the bob in the Maiden Handicap (1200m).

The four-year-old was met with strong market support, and was able to fend off the challenge of Skald to fall in by a nose.

Tony and Maddysen Sears made it three, as the resuming Better Thinking ($2.70 fav) proved too speedy over the sprint trip to score in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (800m).

The promising filly made light work of a wide gate, racing across to the lead.

Stephen Kirkwood's Deep Melody ($4.20) was able to hold the fence approaching the bend, however couldn't match motors when it mattered.

Iced ($4) for Jackie Cromtpon launched a surging burst late in the piece, however was just a stride short, as Better Thinking clung on by a nose, with Deep Melody rounding out the trifecta.

My Boy Mischke ($41) ran third at big odds for Phyllis Kallinowski in the QTIS Three-Years-Old Maiden Plate (1500m), while Mr Tickets ($9.50) was edged out on the line for Donald Baker in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1500m).

# CLIFFORD Park has received strong support for the latest meeting it has managed to pick up.

The six-race card set down for Saturday night has attracted 148 nominations.

The Easter Saturday meeting was also originally scheduled for six races, saw 134 nominations, before being extended to eight races.

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