Lightly raced Shenzhou Steeds showed his liking for the Queensland Winter by taking out the Listed $200,000 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich today.

Shenzhou Steeds

Lightly race Shenzhou Steeds takes out the Ipswich Cup - photo © Daniel Costello

Ridden a superb race by Eddie Wilkinson, Shenzhou Steeds was able to out stay favourite Kinnersley in the run to the line and maintain his unbeaten Queensland record.

Wilkinson, whose association with Moroney goes back to New Zealand before he moved to Brisbane, gave Shenzhou Steeds a sweet run just behind the leader Kinnersley and the pair had a great battle over the final 100m.

Trainer Mike Moroney brought the four year old to Queensland last year and won two races at the Sunshine Coast and one at Doomben from three starts before heading back to Melbourne.

Moroney decided to bring Shenzhou Steeds north again after winning over 1600m at Flemington in early May and will now head back to the Sunshine Coast for the Listed $200,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast in two weeks.

“Eddie was my stable rider for a couple of years before he came across to Queensland.  I thought it was a great ride and he rode him exactly to instructions,” Moroney said.

“We always thought when we bought him that he would make this sort of horse with a bit of time. Our concern was the tight track. He has form on the big tracks mainly but he had a good barrier draw and aided by a great ride.”

“We might go to the Caloundra Cup. I’ll have a talk with Eddie.”

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.