Kiwi stayer Benzini has been allocated the top weight of 60kg for the 2017 Listed $175,000 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich on Saturday.
Benzini,above, will carry the top weight in the Ipswich Cup at Ipswich. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Benzini is trained in New Zealand by Adrian and Harry Bull at Hunterville and hasn’t been in the winner’s circle since taking out the Group 2 $300,000 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm during the 2016 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
The seven year old gelding hasn’t been completely out of form with three placings since in New Zealand before crossing the Tasman for the second time, including a second in the Group 1 NZ$200,000 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 16.
Benzini has had two runs during the 2017 Brisbane Winter Carnival for two fourths in the Group 3 $125,000 Channel Seven Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm on May 27 and in the Group 2 $300,000 Brisbane Cup (2200m) at Doomben last Saturday.
Toowoomba galloper Jumbo Prince has been given the second top weight of 58kg and the Michael Nolan trained five year old heads to the Ipswich Cup with some mixed form on his record.
Jumbo Prince resumed to dead heat for first with Col ‘N’ Lil in the Listed $150,000 Audi Centre Toowoomba Weetwood Handicap (1200m) at Toowoomba on April 8 but is coming off a last start twelfth to Kaiser Franz in the Premier’s Cup.
Jumbo Prince will be up against Kaiser Franz again and the Robert Heathcote trained six year old has been given 54kg for the Ipswich Cup.
Following his upset win in the Premier’s Cup at $61, Kaiser Franz was always well back in the field when tenth to Chocante in last Saturday’s Brisbane Cup.
The Tulloch Lodge Team of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will saddle up four year old mare Sort After who has been allocated 54.5kg for the Ipswich Cup.
Sort After is coming off an Adelaide Autumn Carnival campaign where she ran fourth to Amelie’s Star in the Group 2 $275,000 Hughes Limousines Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on May 6 followed by a second to Exocet in the Listed $125,000 Centaurea Stakes (2019m) at Morphettville on May 20.
2017 Ipswich Cup Nominations and Weights
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x6256x2344 | BENZINI | G | 7 | Adrian & Harry Bull | 1 | 60kg | 103 |
| 2 | 23x30x1430 | JUMBO PRINCE | H | 5 | Michael Nolan | 2 | 58kg | 99 |
| 3 | 41412×7042 | SORT AFTER | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 3 | 54.5kg | 95 |
| 4 | 665×953010 | KAISER FRANZ (NZ) | G | 6 | Robert Heathcote | 4 | 54kg | 91 |
| 5 | x3742x9660 | FELTRE | G | 6 | Brian Smith | 5= | 54kg | 89 |
| 6 | 9×66856430 | SELF SENSE | G | 6 | David Brideoake | 5= | 54kg | 89 |
| 7 | 5013661424 | MAGNATUNE | G | 7 | Gary Duncan | 7 | 54kg | 81.5 |
| 8 | 8239558132 | COURT’S STAR | G | 5 | John Wilcock | 8 | 54kg | 76 |
| 9 | 5628722349 | PARAGON | G | 5 | John Sargent | 9 | 54kg | 74.5 |
| 10 | 23090×6780 | METEOROLOGIST | G | 6 | Marcus Wilson | 10 | 54kg | 72.5 |
| 11 | x1510x3491 | TESSASTOCK (NZ) | M | 4 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 11 | 54kg | 72 |
| 12 | 6226455013 | MANNY (NZ) | G | 7 | Wayne Walters | 12 | 54kg | 70 |
| 13 | 1355571541 | CHOYSA (NZ) | G | 6 | Wayne Walters | 13 | 54kg | 67 |
| 14 | 90861186×2 | BARRAAJ (NZ) | G | 4 | Angela Plumb | 14 | 54kg | 63 |
| 15 | 2x7458380x | POP ’N’ SCOTCH | G | 6 | Liam Birchley | 15 | 54kg | 76.5 |
| 16 | 022878×590 | TEARS OF JOY | M | 5 | Toby Edmonds | 16 | 54kg | 74 |
| 17 | 4215539083 | HOTEL COSTE | G | 4 | Bruce W Hill | 17 | 54kg | 67 |
