A black-type run in Brisbane this weekend is the latest step by Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp in qualifying his four-year-old In His Stride for a Doomben 10,000 mission this winter.
Lipp saddles-up Rothesay gelding In His Stride at Doomben Racecourse on Saturday in the $100,000 Listed Mandate Ascot Handicap (1200m) and has big Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival ambitions with the progressive galloper.
His main focus is getting the perennial placegetter in winning form to move him up the ratings and have a shot at making the cut for the $700,000 Group 1 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10,000 (1200m).
Held at Doomben on May 13, the Doomben 10,000 is the opening elite level race of the carnival and pre-nomination betting at Ladbrokes.com.au on the weight-for-age feature are led by Gai Waterhouse’s Group 1 winning mare English.
In His Stride currently looks a longshot to make the starting line-up not having won a race since a Benchmark 85 sprint over 1200m at Eagle Farm in December last year.
He has been competitive in good company since however including a second to Madotti on the Gold Coast in the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS race over 1300m in mid-January.
Next-up the horse finished under a length third to Sir Moments in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) continuing a summer of frustrating minor placings.
Lipp hopes In His Stride is first past the post on the weekend getting into the Ascot Handicap on 54kg with apprentice Tiffani Brooker booked for the ride.
If successful, it will be a nice atonement after the galloper missed out on a run in the Listed Weetwood Handicap (1200m) at home at Toowoomba on April 8.
Instead In His Stride lined-up in a Class 6 set-weights sprint over 1100m at the meeting, running second to Quatronic.
“My bloke couldn’t get a run because the Weetwood had a few stayers returning and some others hadn’t done anything for over a year,” Lipp told Racing Queensland this week.
“It was disappointing a horse like In His Stride didn’t make the field.”
Along with the Doomben 10,000, Lipp is also eyeing a possible run in the $1.5 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 10.
“If he doesn’t measure up to those races I can always bring him back for the second-tier races,” Lipp said.
“His last run was good but it was too short.
“I’ve always thought he’d make a winter carnival horse as he’s got the ability.
“He’s been a slow maturer and is only just starting to come good.”
The Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap nominations both close at 11:00am (AEST) on Wednesday May 3, 2017.