Racing
Cool Music ready to play at Ipswich
Small barn hoping possible barn best can begin climb at Ipswich on Easter Monday.
Ipswich takes centre stage for holiday racing in Queensland and trainer Bryan Dais is hoping Cool Music can step up and show the potential he thinks she has going forward.
She might have to lump 60-kilos in benchmark 58 company, but Cool Music is set to pounce on the step back from midweek grade to provincial in the Barrier Reef Pools Fillies and Mares Handicap (1350m) at Ipswich on Monday.
The five-year-old won first-up at Warwick before finishing second at Ipswich over the same trip on March 14.
A fourth placing at Eagle Farm on March 25 over 1600m and beaten less than a length has Dais confident that the mare can step up here from barrier 11.
"I saw the original barrier and didn't worry too much about the rest of the field," Dais said.
"She jumped from the outside barrier here two starts ago and ran enormously.
"I think we ran the fastest 1000, 800 and 400 sectionals of the race.
"I took her to Warwick and that was mainly because of where her rating was at, and the perfect race to kick off her preparation."
After placing at Ipswich in April 2025, an accident in the stable forced Cool Music off the scene for more than six months.
"She came back and was going ok but not where I thought she should be," Dais added.
"She then pulled a muscle and needed an extended spell but this time being back in work, I think she has come back to where she was as a three-year-old.
"At her fifth start at that age, she was already racing against open company at Eagle Farm."
After eight scratchings in the event, Cool Music is rated a $6.50 chance with the David Vandyke-trained Our Jewel the $3.40 favourite.
Check out the latest South African News