Wet track can compensate for Maternal’s wide barrier in Gai Waterhouse Classic

A rain affected track at Ipswich on Saturday can compensate Maternal’s wide barrier draw in the Listed $100,000 Sky Racing Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m).

Jeff Lloyd, above, rides Maternal in the Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Jeff Lloyd, above, rides Maternal in the Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The Ipswich track was rated a heavy 9 at acceptance time on Wednesday and with more showers forecast for the rest of week, there won’t be very much opportunity for it to improve.

Maternal drew barrier eighteen in the original barrier draw of sixteen plus two emergencies and will jump from the outside of the field no matter how many line up in the final filed on Saturday.

Leading Brisbane jockey Jeff Lloyd takes the ride on Maternal, replacing Kerrin McEvoy who was aboard last start when the mare ran ninth to Bonny O’Reilly in the Listed $100,000 IPG Marketing Solutions Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 3.

Trainer Darren Beadman admits that the wide barrier could cause a problem but added that Maternal did handle a soft track two starts back when she recorded a three lengths win in a 1350m BenchMark 85 Handicap at Doomben on May 13.

“She is also quite happy on a soft track as she showed when she won at Doomben two weeks ago,” Beadman told Sky Sports Radio.

“The wide draw isn’t a help but the fence might not be that good either. She has got good gate speed and Jeff Lloyd.”

Beadman will also saddle up the top weight Kinshachi who has drawn nicely at barrier three with Damian Browne booked to ride, replacing Tommy Berry who was aboard last start when the Commands mare ran sixth to Bonny O’Reilly in the Helen Coughlan Stakes.

Kinshachi also has a good wet track record with two wins on the heavy and one on a soft surface and will handle the wet conditions at Ipswich on Saturday.

“He run behind Bonny O‘Reilly the other day was quite OK. She was beaten less than three lengths and is probably down in grade a bit here,” Beadman said.

“It looks like being another heavy track up there on Saturday, she handles that and she’s up to the class.”

The Joe Pride trained I Am Zelady has no winning form on a rain affected track and will also have to overcome a wide barrier after drawing thirteen in the original draw.

Glen Colless takes the ride replacing Brenton Avdulla who rode the mare into sixth place behind Eckstein in the Group 3 $150,000 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 27.

Final Field for the Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m)

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 3x1117x306 KINSHACHI Darren Beadman Damian Browne 3 59kg 94
2 9x0270x276 I AM ZELADY Joseph Pride Glen Colless 13 58kg 92
3 2x16010x30 DEE NINE ELLE Tony Gollan Jim Byrne 4 55kg 86
4 x211150x84 BANDA SPICE Stuart Kendrick Ms Tiffani Brooker (a) 9 54.5kg 85
5 1231×51819 MATERNAL Darren Beadman Jeff Lloyd 18 54.5kg 85
6 1165305×07 NOTONYOURLIFE Tony Gollan Robbie Fradd 8 54kg 81
7 63x164x340 HERMOSA BEACH Matthew Dale Michael Cahill 12 54kg 80
8 x8423600x1 QUEEN OF WANDS Bryan & Daniel Guy Paul Hammersley 14 54kg 80
9 90122×9477 MY LITTLE FLICKA Ben Ahrens 11 54kg 79
10 52116×1011 LUCKY SHOW GIRL Matthew Dunn Ronnie Stewart 1 54kg 76
11 0636×72140 MARAAM Peter & Paul Snowden James Orman 17 54kg 76
12 25x0604x14 ABOHAR Richard Laming 5 54kg 75
13 1×0113 CRIQUETTE Kelso Wood & Patricia Gesler Micheal Hellyer 10 54kg 73
14 30x333314x MADAME DE BAN Matthew Dunn Corey Brown 6 54kg 73
15 9x62158x12 BAROQUE GIRL Scott Henley Josh Oliver 16 54kg 72.5
16 9623234000 ROUND MOUNTAIN GAL Philip Kimmet Andrew Spinks 15 54kg 70
17e x27x351x25 SLUMBER PARTY Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Ms Tegan Harrison 7 54kg 70
18e 5612290×67 GALWAY TOWN Kellie Monckton 2 54kg 55

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.