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For the second straight week Queensland’s feature race was won by an outsider storming home on the rails.
This time it was $41 outsider Anagold, who snuck through on the fence in the $200,000 Ipswich Cup (2150m) to hold out fast-finishing New Zealander High Kin.
Just seven days ago it was the Victorian grey Linton stealing the show when he rocketed home up the inside to win the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
Their runs were strikingly similar, but that’s where the comparisons ended.
Linton went into the Stradbroke with a couple of wins under his belt, and his surprising salute wasn’t overly shocking upon review of the race.
Anagold meanwhile hadn’t won in more than six months and was unplaced in four runs this campaign leading into the race.
Trainer Bryan Guy didn’t even bother making the trip to Ipswich, opting to stay at his Gold Coast base where he celebrated a winning double.
Jockey Tony Pattilo told the Queensland Times his choice to stay on the fence proved the right one.
“I was a hell of a way further back than Bryan [Guy] really wanted me,” Pattilo said.
“When I made my choice to go, I had a look out wide and the horses out there weren't going forward into the race.
“And while I thought I was going well, I didn't think I was good enough to get around them.
“So I bit the bullet and came back to the inside and charged up.
“It was one of those things; if the door didn't open I would have gone home and looked like a bit of an idiot.
“Fortunately the door was open and now I've got the Ipswich Cup by my side.”
Italian import Voila Ici started favourite in Saturday’s Ipswich Cup, despite a weight of history being stacked against him.
He was looking to become the first horse since the race’s inception in 1935 to carry 60kg to victory.
The weight-carrying record is currently held by Sharply, who lugged 58.5kg in 1961.
Peter Moody’s grey jumped from out wide and pushed forward as expected, but was forced to settle third, just off the fence behind Za Magic and Topping.
He made a move about 500m from home but the weight told, and he could only manage a 2.3L fifth. The run netted a Timeform figure of 107, easily the highest number produced in the race.
Four-year-old mare Anagold was still third last at the 500m, but stormed home along the rails as the field fanned and hit the front when it counted, returning a figure of 98.
High Kin flew home late on to miss by a head while Za Magic stuck to his task pretty well for third.
Anagold’s triumph was the weakest by an Ipswich Cup winner over the past two decades.
Heading into the race, the average winning rating over the past five years was a shade under 107.
The last two winners, Gold In Dubai (2011) and Shenzhou Steeds (2012), ran to 106 in winning the race.
Our Lukas was responsible for the strongest performance in recent times – he ran to 111 when carrying 56kg to victory in 2010.
That was his second win in the race after claiming the 2009 renewal.
As a general rule, Ipswich Cup winners go straight to the Caloundra Cup (2400m) a fortnight later and recent history suggests Anagold should perform well if she follows the same path.
Shenzhou Steeds won the Caloundra Cup by seven lengths last year while Gold In Dubai ran second in the race in 2011.
Anagold could also potentially go on to the Grafton Cup (2350m) on July 11 if Guy opts to continue her campaign.
Perhaps the most impressive performance on Saturday was Peron’s win in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m).
She settled just off the pace, was pulled very wide around the home turn and still proved too good, letting down to grab a two-length win.
Jockey Michael Cahill was impressed with the performance, but said she would’ve been even more impressive on top of the ground.
The run netted a Timeform figure of 103p, and extended the filly’s superb career record to six wins from seven starts.
She has won all three runs this campaign improving every time, and is now eyeing off this Saturday’s Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Last year’s Gai Waterhouse Classic winner Gai’s Choice ran to 99 in winning the race 12 months ago before producing a narrow third in the Tatt’s Tiara a week later.
She ran to a career peak of 113 in that race, although she hasn’t been able to repeat that performance.
Peron is showing all the signs of being a better horse so don’t be surprised to see her run a huge race if she lines up this weekend.