It had been a Queensland Winter Racing Carnival of bad luck for the always honest Gold Coast-trained Bandipur but finally the son of Commands celebrated a deserving win in the Listed $80,000 Eye Liner Stakes (1200m) at Ipswich.
Bandipur (pictured at Caulfield) was a deserving winner of the Eye Liner Stakes 2020 at Ipswich. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Mishani Enterprises-raced five-year-old has been firing on all cylinders this prep but unable to get things his way on race day with bad barriers and luckless runs.
Two back he was runner-up in the Listed Ascot Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm before being caught wide throughout when a brave 10th only 2.3 lengths off the winner Signore Fox at Grafton in the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) with 59kg last start.
He came back to 58.5kg for the Eye Liner Stakes on Gai Waterhouse Classic Day, but had to be ridden for luck again by jockey Jag Guthmann-Chester drawing out wide again in gate 10 of 14.
“When the barriers come out, I just thought ‘not again!’,” trainer Purdy said post-win.
“I told Jag he’s just got to ride him for luck and hope for the best.”
From the gate Bandipur found himself settled towards the back of the field as Tarzan led them around in the Eye Liner Stakes.
Once on the straight, Guthmann-Chester drove through to grab the lead as a field of horses vied for positions, charging ahead for a three-quarter length win aboard the deserving Bandipur ($11).
In second was another backmarker, Chris Munce’s one-time favourite Boomsara ($5.50) who was shuffled back third or fourth last around the bend before getting up through for second.
The Darryl Hansen-trained Monsieur Gustave ($19) snared third in a photo with I Dream Of Green ($18) who was up notably in grade to round out the Eye Liner Stakes trifecta.
“I’m just so relieved!” Purdy said.
“That horse, he’s just a little gun. He’s just had no luck the whole carnival.
“He’s just been flying. When you look at his runs, you just can’t knock him.
“The horse deserves it.”
Bandipur now heads out for a spell before targeting a Wild Card entry into one of the Magic Millions Day races at home on the Gold Coast next January.
“It makes it so much easier to get up in the morning when you’ve got a nice horse like this in the stable,” Purdy said.
2020 Eye Liner Stakes Results
| Colour | Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 2 | BANDIPUR | Kelly Purdy | Jag Guthmann-Chester | 10 | 58.5kg | $11 | ||
 |
2 | 4 | BOOMSARA | Chris Munce | Brad Stewart | 0.5L | 5 | 56.5kg | $5.50 | |
 |
3 | 8 | MONSIEUR GUSTAVE | Darryl Hansen | Dale Smith | 0.6L | 7 | 54.5kg | $19 | |
 |
4 | 14 | I DREAM OF GREEN | Stuart Kendrick | Jake Bayliss | 0.7L | 2 | 54kg | $18 | |
 |
5 | 1 | DEEP IMAGE | Robert Heathcote | Ms Stephanie Thornton | 0.9L | 14 | 59kg | $10 | |
 |
6 | 9 | MR BELLAGIO | Toby & Trent Edmonds | Robbie Fradd | 1.4L | 12 | 54kg | $3.90F | |
 |
7 | 6 | MISHANI HUSTLER | Les Ross | Mark Du Plessis | 1.5L | 11 | 55kg | $16 | |
 |
8 | 11 | SHARPE HUSSLER | Darryl Ward | Ron Stewart | 2.25L | 3 | 54kg | $26 | |
 |
9 | 5 | PENNINO | Darryl Hansen | Jim Byrne | 2.75L | 8 | 55kg | $4 | |
 |
10 | 7 | FIERY HEIGHTS | Barry Lockwood | Boris Thornton | 3.5L | 13 | 54.5kg | $31 | |
 |
11 | 12 | WINTER PASSAGE | Stuart Kendrick | Tegan Harrison | 3.7L | 4 | 54kg | $41 | |
 |
12 | 13 | ATOUCHMORE | Mitchell Fry | Micheal Hellyer | 4L | 9 | 54kg | $201 | |
 |
13 | 3 | TARZAN | Stuart Kendrick | Baylee Nothdurft (a) | 4.75L | 1 | 57.5kg | $21 | |
 |
14 | 10 | HARD STRIDE | Jason Judge | Taylor Marshall | 7L | 6 | 54kg | $201 |
