Knuckle Up flew home to finish on the winner’s heels on heavy going here at Ipswich last time out and looks over the odds to win the first this afternoon. The Dane Shadow gelding has continued to perform well as Kelly Schweida has raised the bar and as he has gotten further out in trip this time, but he’s at peak condition for this afternoon’s race and the mile looks ideal.
Flower Of Love has returned two pleasing efforts this time and will only improve into his third-up target at Ipswich this afternoon. The Redoute’s Choice mare led the whole way at Doomben first-up and found the line nine lengths clear of her closest rivals, before another close-up effort for third on the Sunshine Coast last time out. She can go forward in this small field and will be hard to run down.
Fairlighting has steadily built to the task this time and looms as a live each-way chance in the sixth at Ipswich today. The Sebring gelding was settled towards the tail of the field at the Sunshine Coast last start but spotted his rivals too great a start and could only manage a fifth placing. He’s rock-hard fit for today’s assignment and will appreciate the rise in trip ($8.50 at publish).
Bryneich failed to fire first-up, but he’s sure to have benefitted from the run and strikes a winnable one at Ipswich this afternoon. The Lonhro gelding typically enjoys sharp improvement into his second-up runs and hit the line well to finish third at Doomben at this point of his last preparation. A repeat of that performance would see him right in the finish of this race.