3 minute read

Feature racing heads to Ipswich in Queensland today which includes the $175,000 Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m).

Maurus has been racing in very good form of late and comes off a very solid effort in the Group 1 Doomben Cup last start.

After settling back in the field, Maurus battled on well in the straight to finish fifth, only beaten 1.8L by Our Ivanhowe and he goes back up in trip for this where he has a good record.

The David Vandyke-trained runner won with ease over 2200m at Doomben two back and if he runs up to his recent form he will prove too good for these.

Maurus rates well on weight adjusted ratings and leading local jockey Damian Browne takes the ride for the first time replacing Blake Spriggs.

The 28 days between runs should suit with some of his best form having come off a slight freshen up throughout his career and he is likely to find this a much easier task to what he came up against last start.

Puccini and Nissile look the most likely to roll forward and take up the lead and if they really put on the speed that will suit Maurus who could find himself in the second half of the field.

Puccini backs up off his Brisbane Cup run at Eagle Farm last week and this looks a much better option for him back to the 2150m.

The Darren Weir-trained runner was very good the start prior when runner up to Real Love in the Group 3 premiers Cup (2200m) and that effort certainly brings him right into this.

The five-year-old is now out to 511 days since his last victory but expect him to roll forward today and will take plenty of running down.

Both runs over this distance range have been good, winning one and placing on the other occasion and on weight adjusted ratings he measures right up in this company.

Worthy Cause steps up in trip following a sound effort in the Listed Wayne Wilson Mile at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

Stepping up 550m in one week is some task for the four-year-old although he has been running consistently well this campaign.

Has only had the one previous outing at the trip when unplaced but he is certainly fit on the back of four solid efforts and fifth up today should be at peak fitness.

Whilst there are concerns over the quick back up and step up to 2100m if he can run up to his recent efforts this campaign he will be right in the finish once again.

Iggi Pop will have no such issues with the trip, following some handy runs over 2400m previously.

Was okay in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm last week having run on well for second behind Ecuador at Randwick two starts back.

With the blinkers on from the inside draw would expect him to not be too far away in the run and he should be in this for a long way.

Last win came some 714 days ago but he has been far from disgraced in recent times and his second placing in the Wagga Cup three starts back was very good.

Not sure he is quite up to beating the top of couple of chances today but expect him to be right around the mark and will be there at the finish.

Other chances include Jumbo Prince, who won at Doomben three starts back in a dead-heat and his two runs since have been okay.

Also comes out of the Wayne Wilson Mile, but has placed his two previous efforts at the trip and is not without hope of featuring in the placings.

Dance Of Heroes goes up in grade having produced some solid form in Sydney recently and is up in trip where untried.

The Chris Waller-trained runner has drawn to get a good run from barrier 2 and his best form does not see him out of this.