Robert Heathcote’s tough stayer Volkhere is set to back up in the Listed $175,000 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich on Saturday.
The Robert Heathcote trained Volkhere is set to back up in the Ipswich Cup at Ipswich. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Volkhere was beaten less than a length and a half when fifth to Jetset Lad in the Group 2 $300,000 Evergreen Turf Brisbane Cup (2200m) at Doomben last Saturday.
Heathcote said that a quick back up won’t worry the six year old who is one of sixteen nominations for the Ipswich Cup.
“He loves racing and he will be up near the pace. Why not back him up?” Heathcote told AAP.
Volkhere has been racing fairly consistently this preparation without a breakthrough win with a fifth, a fourth and three placings from seven starts since early March.
The Dehere gelding put in the worst run of this campaign with an eleven lengths eighth to Index Linked in the Listed $175,000 Linked Group Plumbing Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on May 16.
But he was able to redeem himself with a much improved fifth in the Brisbane Cup.
Adelaide trained Baligari is also among the nominations for the Ipswich Cup and will go to the post as one of the top fancies following his second to Faust in the Group 3 $125,000 Channel 7 Premier’s Cup (2020m) at Doomben on May 23.
The Lloyd Kennewell trained four year old has also been racing in consistent form this campaign with a third in the Listed $80,000 Holdfast Insurance City Of Adelaide Handicap (1400m) at Morphettville on April 25 before dead heating for fourth at his first Queensland Winter Carnival start in the Listed $100,000 James Boag’s Premium Members’ Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on May 9.
Banco Mo came to Queensland with some good southern form including a win in the Listed $350,000 Mornington Cup (2400m) at Mornington on March 28 but has failed to fire at two runs since.
The Bevan Laming trained seven year old gelding was clearly out of his class when eleventh to Pornichet in the Group 1 $650,000 The Bundaberg Rum Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on May 9 but can do better than his last start tenth to Frespanol in the Listed $100,000 James Boag’s Premium Spear Chief Handicap (1630m) at Doomben on May 30.
Gold Coast trainer Bryan Guy has nominated Noisy Ocean and is hoping to go one better in this year’s Ipswich Cup after running second to Brave Ali twelve months.
Noisy Ocean has hit form at the right time with two wins from his last three starts including a last start victory in the $16,000 The Coolangatta Hotel Open Handicap (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 30.
The remaining Ipswich Cup nominations are Bachelor Zeel, Darci Be Good, Hi Son, Kobi Creek, Miss Husson, No Tricks, Shotpover River, Vodnik, Danchai, Kurtley, Barge and Charge and Strategic Shadow.
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