STEPH A WINNER

STEPHANIE Thornton made off with the Ipswich Cup after upstaging her more fancied rivals aboard Happy Go Plucky on Saturday.

Friendless in betting at $26, Thornton was given little chance by punters but she had different ideas after perfectly navigating a passage aboard the seven-year-old from a tricky barrier 11 to hold off the might of Chris Waller with second favourite So You Win and local hope Flash Aah. Little known Gold Coast trainer John Gilmore prepared the winner.