Fit For Purpose to return to stakes class

Matt McGillivray was able to get Fit For Purpose off the fence at the right time to win at Ipswich.

Fit For Purpose is headed back to stakes class after an impressive win at Ipswich.

Jockey Matt McGillivray was able to get the gelding ($4.20) off the fence at the right time to beat Bluebrook ($6) by three-quarters of a length in the Ray White Ipswich Handicap (1350m) on Saturday.

At his previous start, he had run a close-up sixth to Snippets Land in the Listed Spear Chief Stakes at Caloundra.

Allan Russell, the stable foreman for trainer Liam Birchley, says Fit For Purpose will probably head back to better-class races.

“He is a bit better than today’s class and I think he will be suited up to 1600 metres. A race like the Tatts Mile later in the carnival might suit him,” Russell said after the benchmark-75 win.

McGillivray said Fit For Purpose had been a little slow to jump but he had been able to get a trailing position on the fence.

“He was just too strong for them at the finish and he might go on to better things,” McGillivray said.