Outside Pass breaks through for deserved group win in Ipswich Cup
Ultra-consistent Queenslander Outside Pass (Head Bound x Tina's Show Aug '13) finally broke through for her first win at group level when winning Saturday's $37,500 Ipswich Cup (520m).
Sent to the boxes as the $1.90 favourite, punters had their hearts in their mouths early as Outside Pass was kept wide through the first turn and was five lengths off the leader down the back straight.
However, the Tony Apap-trained bitch wasn't going down without a fight, charging to the line to defeat classy racers Cyn's Magic (Magic Sprite x Tuscany Sally Feb '15) and Outback Sunshine (Lochinvar Marlow x Shades Of Ella Dec '14) in a fast 30.22.
It was the first major win for Outside Pass which ran second in the 2016 Group 1 Winter Cup, the 2016 Group 2 Shootout and the 2016 Group 3 Speed Star.
2017 City Of Ipswich Gold Cup Final.
Box 8 Outside Pass – Tony Apap. Box 4 Cyn's Magic – Bill Elson – Box 1 Outback Sunshine – John Geoghegan. 30.22 (5.43 – 13.00 – 11.79) 1 1/2 x 1 1/4. pic.twitter.com/Ex9RESWMqV— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) November 25, 2017
She also finished third in the 2016 Group 1 Brisbane Cup and was a finalist in the 2016 Group 1 National Sprint, the 2016 Group 1 Melbourne Cup, the 2017 Group 1 Winter Cup, the 2017 Group 1 National Distance, the 2016 Group 2 Richmond Oaks and the 2016 Group 2 Maitland Cup.
Apap said it was a relief to finally record a group win with Outside Pass against a cracking line-up.
“It was a great field – every dog in the race was capable of winning it,” he said.
“She had to do it the hard way too. She was four wide and got a bit of a bump at the first turn – it was great to see her really knuckle down and get the job done.
“It was her 12th group final on Saturday night and she has placed in a heap of those – even in the Melbourne Cup she finished fourth but was only three lengths off the winner.
“It was definitely a good feeling to get that monkey off our backs.”
Outside Pass has now won 27 of her 61 starts with 15 placings, her prize money in excess of $214,000.
Although she is getting on in age, Apap says his bonny bitch still has a zest for racing and has given no indication she is ready to retire.
“She is over four, but she is still racing as good as ever.
“Her line doesn't tend to race for too long – but even though she has had a few hiccups along the way she still wants to be there and it shows in how she is racing.”
Outside Pass will now head towards the heats of the Group 1 Brisbane Cup (520m) which are set to be run at Albion Park this Thursday.