Caption: A ‘flying’ Jack’s Arrow returns to Ipswich on Saturday night after winning the $15,400 QGold Open Final (460m) at Bundaberg earlier in the week. (Photo: Uncle Rusty’s Photos)
Weekly wrap of racing at Ipswich with MIKE HILL
SUPER consistent sprinter Jack’s Arrow returns to Ipswich on Saturday night after a highly successful three-race mission to Bundaberg.
The Kerry Perrett-prepared chaser hasn’t stepped on to the Ipswich track since late April when a hard finishing second behind Spring Travis, beaten a length.
But in between he’s collected the $7700 Anniversary Sprint and the $15,400 QGold Open Series, both over the Bundy 460m.
Jack’s Arrow’s victory in the $10,010-to-the-winner QGold final on Monday was full of merit after an equally impressive heat win seven days earlier.
The black son of Fernando Bale and Stop An’ Paws is racing in career-best form with seven wins and four seconds from his past 12 starts.
Unfortunately he fell at Capalaba in the other outing.
Jack’s Arrow will jump from box one in the TAB Venue Mode Fifth Grade (431m) – the penultimate event – at Ipswich on Saturday and his 24.89s PB for the trip is quicker than his rivals.
“I want him to jump with them and hold his ground,” said Perrett, who is based at Withcott at the foot of the Toowoomba Range.
“He’s a mad chaser.
“He’s going alright but he can do silly things.
“It’s a pretty good field; five of the runners have broken 25s, so it won’t be easy.
“He’ll have to do everything right.”
Perrett said Jack’s Arrow had missed the jump two starts back at Bundy when in box one.
Luckily the dog was good enough to push up along the rails and take control in the straight.
But a repeat performance could prove costly, the trainer suggested.
“He does get stirred up before his races,” Perrett said.
And he admitted the sprinter definitely had a liking for the Bundaberg track.
Jack’s Arrow has seven wins and a second from just eight starts on the grass surface and is likely to head north again in August for the $11,600 Bundaberg Sprint Series (460m).
His current career stats stand at 27: 12-6-2 with prizemoney topping $39,000.
Meanwhile, the black sprinter’s main rivals at the weekend appear to be last-start winner Comical Warren (Gerry Crisci), the Jemma Daley-trained Hara’s Boots, an impressive Ipswich winner four starts back, and Anna Bella (Josh Priest) and Spring Lionel (Pauline Byers).
Hara’s Boots, although disappointing in his two most recent runs over 520m at Albion Park, should appreciate the drop in distance.
The brindle sprinter (Fernando Bale-Hara’s Skylah) has five wins from nine starts over the 431m trip.
CHURCHABLE trainer Mick Campbell was on-song leading in a winning treble at Ipswich on Thursday.
Campbell was successful with Bogie Tornado ($4), Federal Phantom ($9) and Bogie Lightning ($10) – all winning over 288m.
At the same meeting, Paul Graham rugged up a winning double with It’s Time Madam ($6.50) and It’s Time Lionel ($4.60) in successive races.
Tony Apap produced a pair of well-fancied winners – Very Handy ($1.25) in a 4th Grade (431m) and Hush Hush ($1.50) in a 4th/5th Grade (520m) – on Tuesday, while Greg Stella landed a double with favourites Red Ranger ($1.85) and Topaz Blue ($2.30) in 5th Grade events (431m) on Saturday night.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Renald Attard also had success with Cyclone Ranger – a hot $1.25 fancy – and $21 outsider My Genie.
*****
IPSWICH is gearing up for a series of feature events in July.
The $18,500 Ipswich Grand Prix (732m) – an open event for the best eight stayers – will be run on July 13.
Previous winners include Mullaway for Joanne Price in 2016, Jalapeno (Tony Apap 2018), Velocity Bettina (Kevin Ellis 2020), Sir Truculent (Wally Harkins 2021), Days Of Thunder (Warren Nicholls 2022) and Select Moment for Gary Mackay last year, while 2014 winner Wag Tail (Christina Harman) holds the race and track record of 43.56s.
Meanwhile, the finals of both the $45,000 Young Guns (520m) and the $7700 Past Members (288m) will be staged on Saturday, July 20.
Heats for the Past Members are scheduled for July 11, while the Young Guns heats will be run on July 13.
IPSWICH is also preparing for this year’s Golden Chase Auction, formerly known as the Ipswich Puppy Auction.
An official said the auction, first staged in the late 1980s, was planned for early October with nominations expected to close some time in August.
“The auction is definitely going ahead and nomination forms and more information will be released in coming days,” he said.
To be eligible for the auction, pups must be whelped between October 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024.
