Trainer Rex Lipp is confident that promising filly Tinto will have no problem running out a strong 2400 metres in the 2014 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Tinto came into Queensland Oaks calculations with a narrow win over Paris Match in the Gold Coast Bracelet. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Tinto started her autumn preparation with fair performances over 1100 metres, 1400 metres and 1600 metres before stamping herself as a leading contender for the Queensland Oaks by winning the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) on May 3 and finishing second behind Arabian Gold in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 17.
The Red Dazzler filly has produced an improved effort each time she has stepped up in trip this campaign and Lipp told Sky Racing HQ that he has no concerns about the three-year-old staying the trip in the Queensland Oaks this weekend.
“She is on the improve and has been on the up right through this preparation,” Lipp said.
“She has progressively got stronger and gone on with the job.
“Every time we step her up she is looking for further.
“At the beginning of this preparation we thought that we would slowly creep her up in distance and if we thought that she would go on, we would press on to the Oaks.
“If we didn’t think she would run the 2000 or more we would go back to the Guineas, but from what she has done we have progressed to the Oaks.”
Tinto was settled just behind the leaders and one off the fence in the early stages of The Roses and worked home strongly in the final 200 metres, but was outsprinted by Arabian Gold, who defied the pattern of the day to score an impressive win from the middle of the field.
Lipp admits that Arabian Gold is a very talented filly, but believes that Tinto could have finished closer to the daughter of Dubawi if she wasn’t checked coming around the turn in The Roses and is unsure whether Arabian Gold will possess the same turn-of-pace at the end of a 2400 metre event.
“The other day she got a heavy check on the turn and I know that Arabian Gold went past us and everything, but in saying that she had to pick herself and get going and she was hitting the line nicely,” Lipp said.
“Whether Arabian Gold can sprint like that at the end of 2400 remains to be seen, but she is a very good filly and I am not taking anything away from her.”
Lipp is chasing his first win at Group 1 level since he won the 2004 BRC Sires Produce Stakes with Star Shiraz.
