3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes after Regal Lion takes out the Listed TAB Ipswich Cup at Ipswich on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Regal Lion (Annabel Neasham/Ben Thompson) - $116,000
2nd: Desert Icon (Chris Waller/James Orman) - $37,000
3rd: London Banker (Kelly Schweida/Larry Cassidy) - $18,000

Winning Time: 2:12.08 Last 600m: 37.06

Margins: Neck x 1L

Regal Lion takes out the 2023 @tabcomau Ipswich Cup! @BenThompson2102 with a peach for @ANeashamRacing and @OTIRacing. pic.twitter.com/L8OCZra53r

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 17, 2023

Winning Trainer: Todd Pollard (Annabel Neasham stable foreman)

Both horses ran well: "Both horses had great rides, but maybe the quick back-up didn't quite work for him. Ben brought Regal Lion into the race, blinkers on switched him on and he pounced and was tough at the finish.

Came in confident?: "He's a dour Kiwi so it takes him a bout to get going. A few of the staff at home were quite confident he would go as well as Numerian if not better, and he was favourite this morning. He's been going really well at home and his work on Tuesday morning was very sharp, so it's not a huge surprise he's shown plenty of improvement from his last run. 

Next steps: "He'll stay up here and run in the Caloundra Cup. I'm sure he'll appreciate the 2400m."

Winning Jockey: Ben Thompson

Great ride: "You need the horse underneath you, so all credit to Annabel and Todd. He was disappointing first up, but he's got a good second-up record. He was always going to be much more at home over 2000 metres, and the way the track has been playing I knew it would suit a horse like him, because he likes to slowly work his way into the race. There was a bit of give which he likes, and it worked out perfectly. The blinkers also did the trick, he jumped smartly and travelled beautifully. They steadied up so I popped him out to keep him in a nice rhythm, and we picked up our run from there. When he straightened up I thought it was probably his race to lose."

Caloundra Cup: "Hopefully I can stick with him. A big thanks to Terry Henderson and all the OTI team, it always gives you a lot of confidence when you put on these colours, especially in staying races.