Tinto in better shape second time around
There’s no place like home for one of Queensland’s best racehorses to mount a serious bid for the Coolmore Classic.
At least that’s what Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp is counting on as he prepares Tinto for a second shot at winning the Group One race for fillies and mares at Rosehill on Saturday.
Tinto goes into the Coolmore Classic on the same lead-up schedule to 12 months ago when luck deserted her when it mattered most.
But instead of keeping Tinto in Sydney after last month’s Guy Walter Stakes, Lipp decided to send his $1.45 million earner back to Toowoomba to continue her training for the Coolmore.
“I’m much happier with her this year than I was this time last year, that’s for sure,” Lipp said.
“She didn’t really settle into Sydney at all when I kept her down there.
“She is a good traveller and this time we have brought her back home and she hasn’t looked back since the Guy Walter.”
Having her first start since making it successive Magic Millions Stayers’ Cup wins in early January, Tinto finished seventh in the Guy Walter after being ridden contrary to her best pattern from a deep alley.
“It was a very good run because it was upside down for her after being caught wide and she was only beaten a couple of lengths,” Lipp said.
Tinto is on her third Sydney campaign with her best result in five starts coming in last year’s Villiers Stakes when beaten into second place by Happy Clapper.
“She is well overdue for a change of luck,” Lipp said.
Leading Brisbane jockey Damian Browne keeps the ride, although Tinto has been largely ignored as a $26 chance in all-in betting.
Victorian mare Politeness stretched her legs in a Cranbourne barrier trial as part of her preparation for the Coolmore.
The mare finished worse than midfield in a 990m heat on Monday but the Group One winner wasn’t placed under pressure.
“It was just a nice working gallop and allowed us the opportunity to use the grass surface,” trainer Robert Smerdon said.