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Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp is bracing for a “first” in more ways than one ahead of Cifrado’s $3m Magic Millions Guineas challenge at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Lipp has never won the Magic Millions Guineas since it was first run in 2000 but did saddle up favourite Express Air who failed in the 2009 running behind the Gary White-trained Tempest Tost.

"Express Air got knocked out at the start that year but she went on to win the (Group 2) Queensland Guineas," Lipp said.

Lipp has never met Cifrado's owner Cliff Little who lives in Cairns despite the Encryption gelding having started 24 times for four wins and three placings.

Little, a former disability worker, is well known in far north Queensland for winning $40m on a lotto ticket.

"I've spoken to Cliff many times over the phone but I still haven't met him in person," Lipp said.

"But, he tells me he's going to fly down for this race on Saturday but I'll believe it when I see him face to face."

Lipp has a high regard for Little who gave him a blank cheque to buy Cifrado who was knocked down for $320,000 at the Magic Millions sales at the Gold Coast in 2022.

"I trained a few from north Queensland that I had to send back when they didn't measure up and then Cliff asked me to buy a horse for him at the sales," Lipp said.

"I had never met him and was introduced to him by Cairns trainer Trevor Rowe.

"Trevor is the uncle of my farrier and a brother to a close friend Steve Rowe who was the chief steward in the Downs area."

Cifrado – a Damien Thornton mount - is second favourite along with the John O'Shea-trained Sydney Bowler at $5.50 for the Magic Millions Guineas over 1400 metres after drawing barrier seven.

"He's got barrier seven but I've learnt you can't trade them," the two-time Group 1 winning trainer said.

"It's a big field and what you get is what you get."

Lipp can't fault Cifrado since his brilliant last to first win in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate at Doomben on December 30.

"He's going great and I'm very happy with him," Lipp said.

"It was a very good win in the Vo Rogue considering what he had been through.

"He had two weeks out in the paddock after his previous run when he was gelded.

"I don't know how much he's improved since the Vo Rogue but he's definitely improved."

Lipp rates the $5.00 favourite Chrysaor, who drew barrier eight, as the main danger to Cifrado who became Queensland's latest $1 million prizemoney earner following his Vo Rogue success.

Cifrado was the top qualifier for the Magic Millions Guineas with $1,039,775 in prize money while the Chris Waller-trained Chrysaor was the second highest with $892,300