The 2017 Ipswich Cup Form Guide is essential reading for punters and racing fans ahead of the Listed race in Queensland on Saturday afternoon.

Several notable stayers have been confirmed in the 2017 Ipswich Cup field and we have analysed every runner in detail, in order to help you find the Ipswich Cup winner.

Benzini, Jumbo Prince and Sort After head an exciting Ipswich Cup field of fifteen this year and the race will be contested at 3:17pm on Saturday.

Benzini

Kiwi raider Benzini has returned to Australia in typically competitive form this time and should relish a step back in class into the 2017 Ipswich Cup field. A stakes winner in Australia and his native New Zealand previously, the Tale Of The Cat gelding returned to competition this year for a close second in the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie, before placing third in the Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m). Having finished fourth in both the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) and Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) since arriving in Queensland, Benzini is undoubtedly one of the Ipswich Cup’s class horses and he should prove tough to beat, even with a race-high 60kgs in tow.

Jumbo Prince

Leading local Jumbo Prince has posted a number of typically excellent results this season and would not look out of place in the Ipswich Cup winner’s stall on Saturday afternoon. Storming home to dead-heat the Listed Weetwood Handicpa (1200m) on April 8^th, Jumbo Prince finished fourth in the Listed Tails Stakes (1600m) and third in the Listed Tattersall’s Memebers’ Handicap (1600m), but failed to fire in the Premier’s Cup last time. The Outback Prince entire is drawn ideally in barrier 4 and has the notable advantage of Jeff Lloyd in the saddle for his run in the Ipswich Cup.

Sort After

Sydney raider Sort After has built to the task through four starts this time and appears set to peak when she takes her position in the Ipswich Cup field. Requiring a couple of runs to find competitive form through March and April, the Wanted mare flew home to finish fourth in the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on May 6^th, before running second in the Listed Cantaurea Stakes (2019m) last time out on May 20^th. The mare has struggled to get through heavy ground previously, but is weighted well and should be able to find a good position in transit behind the pace from barrier 11.

Kaiser Franz

Kaiser Franz has produced a number of smart efforts, between lacklustre runs and is not without a chance of finishing in the first three in the Ipswich Cup. The Savabeel gelding ran a good race over the 1805m course at Eagle Farm on April 29^th and while failing to fire in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m), stormed home to win the Premier’s Cup as a $61 chance on Queensland Oaks Day. Again failing to produce much when tenth in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) last weekend, the horse will undoubtedly enjoy a step back in class on the quick back-up.

Feltre

Feltre has performed well in races like the Ipswich Cup previously, but the gelding’s form appears to have tailed off in recent starts and it will take a career-best effort to win the Ipswich Cup. Finishing ninth in a Doomben minor over 1350m on April 15^th, the Show A Heart gelding worked to the line well for sixth in the 1805m race at Eagle Farm on the 29^th, before has since failed to produce much in either of the Chairman’s Handicap or Premier’s Cup.

Self Sense

David Brideoake’s stable has been in excellent form in 2017 and the Mornington trainer is not without a hope of saddling the Ipswich Cup winner with Self Sense. Hitting the line well to finish sixth amongst strong company in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on March 25^th, the Street Sense gelding progressed to a strong fourth in the Robert Taranto Handicap (2425m) and third in the Archer Hall Of Fame Trophy (2000m), but was completely luckless when thirteenth in the Brisbane Cup last weekend. Drawn in an inside barrier, Self Sense will be partnered by Michael Cahill.

Magnatune

Magnatune has produced a number of competitive performances this season, but faces a big step up in class into the Ipswich Cup field and will require plenty of luck to be a winning chance. Second behind Cylinder Beach in the Toowoomba Cup (2000m) on April 8^th, the Magnus gelding returned from a freshen-up to finish fourth on the 1800m course at the Gold Coast a fortnight ago.

Pop ‘N’ Scotch

Veteran Pop ‘N’ Scotch will resume in the Ipswich Cup and is would take a massive effort for him to win the race. The rising seven-year-old was unsuccessful during a summer campaign in New Zealand and trialled only fairly in the lead-up to his Ipswich Cup appearance.

Court’s Star

Court’s Star is another horse who faces a step up in class into the Ipswich Cup field, but he has performed well at the course several times previously and is drawn ideally into the race in barrier 5, with a light weight. Winner of the Battle Of Coral Sea Cup (1800m) on May 13^th, the Court Command gelding ran a handy third in The Love Doctor Handicap (1700m) before finishing second in the Wolf Blass Handicap (1800m) a fortnight ago.

Paragon

The Randwick-based Paragon is amidst a long and busy preparation and his appearance in the Ipswich Cup is probably a throw at the stumps. The gelding has been competitive through several starts in Sydney without being able to return to winning form, but he beat only one runner home in the Schweppes BM72 (1600m) at Warwick Farm last time out and may have reached the end of his preparation.

Tears Of Joy

Tears Of Joy has failed to fire during his recent starts and probably cannot win the Ipswich Cup amongst this company on Saturday. Fifth in a Sandown minor over 1300m on April 17^th, the Street Cry mare has since placed ninth in the True Version BM78 (1600m) and eleventh in the Centaurea Stakes in Adelaide.

Meteorologist

Meteorologist is the rank outsider in the Ipswich Cup field and is another horse who simply cannot win the feature race. Yet to show much through four starts this time in, the Northern Meteor gelding is drawn wide and it is tough to see where he will settle in the run and if he will have the legs to match it with most of the Ipswich Cup field in the dying stages of the race.

Tessastock

Tessastock is bred to thrive under the conditions of the Ipswich Cup and is not without a chance of winning the feature race. A strong and consistent performer in her native New Zealand prior to crossing the ditch, the daughter of Tavistock suffered a minor ailment during the running of the Chairman’s Handicap, but responded with a comfortable win in the Scott McMahon Electrical Handicap (1800m) last time out on May 28^th. Drawn and weighted well, Tessatock will be partnered by Glen Colless.

Choysa

Choysa has been strong and consistent in country races this season, but is another horse who is charged with stepping up in grade on Saturday and may find the Ipswich Cup field a little too sharp. Returning to winning form in a 2000m at Warracknabeal last time out on May 27^th, the Zabeel gelding is drawn to get a good run from the centre of the field.

Barraaj

Barraaj has proved several times that he is capable of a good performance when nothing is expected of him and while that is the case once more on Saturday, he would have to be at his best to win the Ipswich Cup. The Iffraaj gelding was last seen finishing second in The Avenue Handicap (1800m) on May 27^th and appears as though he will enjoy a step up in distance.