Trainer Rex Lipp has confirmed that Group 1 winning mare Tinto could return to the races in the 2015 Keith Noud Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.
Tinto is set to return to the races in the 2015 Keith Noud Handicap at Doomben this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Tinto has not been seen at the races since she finished a credible seventh behind Plucky Belle in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 14 due to a joint injury, but she showed that she was ready to ready to racing with a strong performance in a jump-out last week.
Lipp told Sky Racing HQ that Tinto had taken no long-term damage from the joint issue and he said that the daughter of Red Dazzler will likely resume in the 2015 Keith Noud Handicap as long as the Doomben track does not come up heavy on Saturday.
“She had a little bit of a hiccup with one of her joints,” Lipp said.
“We have her nominated for Saturday.
“The weather will be a very important part of her kick-off start because there could be a heavy track and I certainly wouldn’t be sending her around on a heavy track at this stage.
“She trialed here the other day and I couldn’t be happier with her trial.
“Her blood has come back good and everything has been spot-on.
“She has come back and she is willing to do what she needs to do.
“First-up last preparation she flashed home over 1200 metres and she will run a big race.
“Everything has gone to plan and there are no problems with her.”
Whether she runs in the Keith Noud Handicap on Saturday will play a key role in dictating the path that Tinto follows during the summer.
Lipp revealed that Tinto will head to Sydney for the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens and the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on December 12 if she runs in the Keith Noud Handicap or she could be saved for the Tattersall’s Arcade Classic (1200m) at Doomben on November 21 and remain in Queensland for the Listed Just Now Handicap (1350m) at the same venue on December 5 and the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) on December 19.
“At this stage we may go to Sydney for the Festival Stakes over 1500 and 12 days later it is the Villiers,” Lipp said.
“If we don’t run this Saturday we might not start until the 21st in the Tattersall’s Classic for fillies and mares and then into the Just Now and the Bernborough.
“It is the same path we took last year, but I would really like to have a crack at the Villiers if she has come up well.”
Tinto’s return to racing will be an emotional time for connections as the recently deceased Tim Bell was the regular rider of the five-year-old and he steered her to victory in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) last year.
