Chairman shares in Ipswich racing celebration

BRISBANE Racing Club chairman Neville Bell collected a win at Ipswich as big name trainers and jockeys shared in the spoils at Ipswich.

Jockey Michael Cahill returns to the Ipswich enclosure after riding Kalik to victory at the Ipswich track. Picture: Cordell Richardson

TURF CHAT

BRISBANE Racing Club chairman Neville Bell collected a win at Ipswich as big name trainers and jockeys shared in the spoils at Ipswich.

The track last Wednesday was again upgraded to a good 4 and again raced beautifully in the opinion of all on course, further erasing the memories of a month ago on the 130 year old racecourse.

Two-year-old gelding Kalik, which was bred and owned by the BRC chairman and his wife, saluted in the third event of the day at juicy odds of $15.

The QTIS bonus meant the galloper collected a handy $22,500 in prize money for the win.

Former Ipswich premier jockey Michael Cahill steered home the youngster as a big name regularly featured in training and/or riding ranks across a strong eight race card.

Other former Ipswich premier jockeys or trainers were on the winning list, including Matthew Dunn, Toby Edmonds, Chris Munce, Stewart Kendrick, Tony Gollan, Jeff Lloyd and Larry Cassidy.

Former Ipswich premier jockey and winner of the big four Australian races Chris Munce, continues to make a great fist of training.

He collected a double on Wednesday with Starkers and Smartypy.

These two winners were ridden by Cassidy and former South African Group 1 winning jockey Sean Cormack.

Murwillumbah's Matt Dunn was another former premier Ipswich trainer to collect a winning double with Sleepy Heart and Axella.

Ronnie Stewart and apprentice Baylee Nothdurft were the respective successful jockeys for Dunn's winners.

Reigning Ipswich premier jockey Jeff Lloyd helped to extend his current season lead with a winning double aboard Don't You Know Him and Reef Bug.

Lloyd extended trainer Gollan's lead at the head of what should be a fifth consecutive Ipswich premiership win.

Reef Bug was trained by former Magic Millions winner Toby Edmonds before another former Millions winner Stuart Kendrick collected a victory with Mr Strachan, which was ridden by Ryan Wiggins.

Winxational farewell

THE amazing, incredible, outstanding career of a great race mare came to an end on the weekend as the mighty Winx won her third consecutive Queen Elizabeth Stakes to bow out of racing on a high.

This sensational racehorse drew a sell-out crowd of 42,000 and it was brilliant to see hundreds of people outside of the course near the start aiming for a glimpse of the great mare.

Thirty-three consecutive wins, including a world record 25 Group 1 scalps along with in excess of $27m prize money, says it all as the story was completed at Randwick.

There have been some mighty mares over the past couple of decades all of whom have been major drawcards for Australian race tracks. These have included Sunline, Makybe Diva, and the undefeated Black Caviar.

However, none have matched the deeds of Winx. She will be remembered as a truly great race mare - one who rated as the best racehorse in the world.

The southern Autumn Group 1 racing is near to completion and the next off the rank is Queensland's Winter Carnival commencing in a few weeks.

That of course includes the Ipswich Cup Day on June 15, a week after the Stradbroke Handicap race at Eagle Farm - Queensland's premier race at Queensland's premier track.

Next meetings

The next programmed Ipswich race meeting is on Wednesday, followed by Wednesday, April 24.

Next month's racing opens on Saturday, May 4, for Legs and Eddies Day, followed by the 6th CFMEU Mining and Energy Labour Day Cup on Monday, May 6.

Originally published as Chairman shares in Ipswich racing celebration