First Crush to atone in Ipswich Cup

Last year’s runner-up First Crush will be out to redeem himself in the Ipswich Cup.

Stakes winner First Crush’s last start was so poor his trainer Chris Munce has erased it from his memory.

First Crush lines up for his second attempt to win the Listed $175,000 Ipswich Cup (2150m) on Saturday.

He ran second in the Ipswich Cup last year before going on to finish second in the Caloundra Cup and winning the Grafton Cup.

First Crush was later far from disgraced when sixth in the Newcastle Cup.

The gelding has been in solid form this year apart from his three runs at Eagle Farm which have resulted in a last, third last and another last.

At his most recent run First Crush was beaten nearly 11 lengths into last place in the Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm.

Munce said he was putting it down to First Crush having a distinct disliking for the new Eagle Farm track.

“I can only put it down to that. His last run was atrocious and his other two runs at Eagle Farm haven’t been much better,” ‘Munce said.

“Some horses just don’t like certain tracks. Look at Chief De Beers he couldn’t win anywhere but Doomben where he was a champion.

“I have erased the last Eagle Farm run from my memory and I am looking forward to Saturday.

“His other form is good and as an Ipswich and Caloundra Cup placegetter and a Grafton Cup winner he gets in well at the weights.”

Munce won the 1994 Ipswich Cup as a jockey aboard Oompala who went on to run third in that year’s Melbourne cup.

“It (Ipswich Cup) can be a hard race to win but we are in with a chance,” he said.