Ipswich new stable debut eyed by down under stunnah

A dozen runs in one preparation stands out as uncommon in modern racing, but Michael Morrison is confident his resilient galloper Down Under Stunnah has what it takes for a bold finish in her swan song this campaign at Ipswich.

The trainer has relocated his operation from Beaudesert to Ipswich of late, anticipating that the five-year-old mare could spearhead his first victory from the new premises and capitalize on her prior success there in January's Living Turf Benchmark 60 Handicap (2180m) on Thursday off the railside barrier two.

"This is her last run for the prep but I think she is well and truly still in good enough order to be going close again," Morrison said.

She dug deep to secure second place by a nose at Ipswich in the 2010m contest on March 6, then earned fourth at Doomben over 2030m during April.

"She probably for a little bit further back that what is preferable," he said of the metro midweek outing.

"They didn't go overly quickly so if made things a little bit difficult, but it was a strong midweek race and I think the top four gapped the rest and she was eating up ground on them at the finish.

"We're back out again in trip and the good thing about a good gate is that she can land in the good spot without having to do any work early and I think with her, she begins well enough but you also don't want to have her under pressure early.

"The good gate will allow her to land in a good spot without using any petrol where two starts ago at Ipswich, she had to be used a bit to find a spot and I think that probably made the difference late.

A daughter of Under The Louvre, Down Under Stunnah has outperformed her siblings from dam Stryking Stunnah with a pair of wins and two placings from 13 starts overall.

Brandon Lerena, the young South African now based in Queensland, has ridden her in eight from her last ten races.

"He's a strong rider and has great hands in terms of being able to get horses to relax," Morrison said.

"I think that is very important wherever they are settling to be in that rhythm and give late.

"He's the perfect rider and probably still underutilised up here and that works in our favour because we usually get first call on him."

Together, Morrison and Lerena have secured three wins and four places in 17 rides within Lerena's latest 100 mounts.

Head to online bookmakers for the latest racing odds on Down Under Stunnah tackling the Living Turf Benchmark 60 Handicap at Ipswich.