It’s a connection steeped in time.
The Bayliss family name will once again be racing at a venue that is at the core of its roots when brothers Jake and Regan Bayliss step into competitive action at the Ipswich Turf Club on Saturday and, in theory at least, they have the chance of taking out all of the three Listed featured races … the Ipswich Cup, The Eye Liner and the Gai Waterhouse … between them on the day.
Jamie Bayliss, the father of these two Group 1 winning jockeys, won the Ipswich Cup on Dixie Kid all the way back in 1989. Jamie’s father, Bob, and his sister Sharon both enjoyed clerk of the course duties at Ipswich and it was Sharon who led Dixie Kid back to scale on a huge day for the Bayliss family.
This Saturday has the chance for being a similar day of celebration.
Both Jake and Regan have rides in the 2025 edition of the Ipswich Cup on Warp Speed and Osmose respectively.
Regan actually takes over from Jake aboard Osmose after Jake partnered the mare to a third place finish in the $500 000 Magic Millions National Classic over 1600m at Eagle Farm. It was the second successive third place result for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained runner with his previous run coming in the Listed Bernborough.
The daughter of Zoffany is now third-up this prep and could be poised to strike.
The sixty-three race veteran Warp Speed … Jake’s Cup mount … is a proven stayer who drops in grade from Group 3 to Listed company here.
While he did finish unplaced in successive races in Group 3 company in his last two starts, in the Chairman’s Handicap and the Premier’s Cup, it is worth noting that those races were won by Sir Delius and Campaldino respectively … Sir Delius being a promising four-year-old import who was winning for the fourth time in seven starts in his first start in Australia, while Campolindo won again at his next start in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup and is now being lined up for a shot at the Melbourne Cup later this year.
Jake Bayliss will sit out the Eye Liner Stakes and the Gai Waterhouse Classic … the two Listed races that follow the Ipswich Cup … but Regan would appear to have an outstanding chance of bringing home a feature race double.
Regan rides Warnie for Ciaron Maher in the Eye Liner. Warnie finished fourth in the Listed Takeover Target at Gosford and third in the Group 2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm in his first and second-up run this preparation.
Fitter now and stepping up from 1200m to 1350m … this one could be spot on.
Regan will then be looking to round off the day with a win in the Listed Gai Waterhouse aboard the Waterhouse and Bott trained, progressive three-year-old filly Gerringong.
The problem here is that Gerringong, who comes into the race on the back of two runner-up finishes in Listed races, will have to overcome the worst of the draw.
That said, the door is open for both Jake and Regan to push their claims to success on the day.
There are no guarantees out on the track of course, but you can count on the fact that Jake and Regan will have a strong, family and fanbase support base cheering them on to achieve the best result they can.
