Victorian galloper Self Sense has revelled in a return to a soft track to win the Ipswich Cup (2150m), the first part of a three-leg Queensland project.
The gelding, which was backed from $5 to start $3.40, burst away in the straight on Saturday to beat Benzini by 6 lengths, with 2 lengths to Jumbo Prince in third.
Self Sense had run a 10-lengths 13th in the Brisbane Cup last week but there were excuses. Alex Woodhams, the stable spokesman for trainer David Brideoake, said the track at Doomben for the Cup had been on the too-hard side.
"He has been crying out for a soft track and a good barrier. He got that today."
Woodhams said Self Sense would press on to the Caloundra Cup on the Sunshine Coast in a fortnight.