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Thornton tests Simply Fly ahead of Gold Coast Guineas

3 minute read

Trainer Rex Lipp is confident Simply Fly has emptied his bag of tricks and can take another step towards a Stradbroke Handicap start in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas on Saturday.

Trainer : REX G LIPP.
Trainer : REX G LIPP. Picture: Racing and Sports

Rex Lipp 's confidence stems from a special trip made by jockey Stephanie Thornton to ride Simply Fly in a barrier trial test at Toowoomba on Tuesday.

Simply Fly, who has won six of his 10 starts, finished second in the 925-metre hit-out, pleasing both Lipp and Thornton.

Thornton injured her wrist but was later cleared of any serious injury when Simply Fly shied at a bird and tossed her in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben last start.

"Steph wanted to come up and ride Simply Fly in a gallop this week but we had trials on last Tuesday so I told her she could ride my six horses at the trials," Lipp said.

"We were both very happy with his trial and he did everything we asked.

"He's a quirky horse with many tricks but the more you do with him the better the communication is between horse and rider."

Lipp is not concerned with Simply Fly drawing barrier 10, and believes the three-year-old can stake a claim for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm next month.

"He gets back so barrier 10 shouldn't worry him and he won the QTIS Jewel on a Heavy 10 so the wet track won't worry him one bit," Lipp said.

"If he wins or races well, he'll head to the (Group 3) Fred Best Quality at the end of the month.

"It's a ballot-free race into the Stradbroke and even if he doesn't win it, he could still head that way."

Stablemate Tycoon Evie faces her moment of truth whether she's a genuine Queensland Oaks contender in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet over 1800 metres.

Tycoon Evie is bred along sprinting lines being a brother to former top galloper Winning Rupert but gives Lipp every indication she'll run a trip.

The daughter of Written Tycoon won three straight at Eagle Farm before blotting her copybook with a last start second to the Chris Waller-trained Easifar in the Listed Princess Stakes at Doomben.

"I would have liked a better draw (12) with her but she's fine and her work this week was very good," Lipp said.

"I can't predict where she'll be in the run from that start but if she goes well, she'll go on to The Roses next start then the Queensland Oaks."

Lipp also is hopeful of a second win in the Listed Silk Stocking with Gem Of Scotland.

He won the race with Au Chocolat, who was ridden by Zac Purton, in 2004.


Racing and Sports

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