Queensland Oaks winner Tinto will be aimed at a Sydney Autumn Carnival campaign after scoring a commanding win in the $170,000 Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa Magic Millions Stayers Cup (1800m) at the Gold Coast last Saturday.
Tinto will head to Sydney for the Autumn Carnival after winning the Stayers Cup, above, at the Gold Coast. Photo by Steve Hart.
Tinto was able to prove her class again after being burdened with 59kg and jumping from the outside of the fourteen horse field but was able to scoot away in the straight to record a one and a half length win over Our Boy Nicholas and Off The Rails.
Winning jockey Tim Bell had to change tactics on the backmarker and had the mare across on the fence settled behind the leaders in the first 300m and after finding the right runs in the straight, scored an untroubled win.
Saturday’s win was Tinto’s second from her last two starts after taking out the Listed $175,000 Bernborough Handicap (1625m) on her home track at Toowoomba on December 31.
Trainer Rex Lipp will now give the four year old mare a short break before preparing her for the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
“She won both of those and again showed her class. It is off for a short break now and then on to Sydney for the autumn,” Lipp told AAP.
“It wasn’t the greatest field at the Gold Coast on Saturday but she put them away like the class horse I know she is.”
Lipp has picked out the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 14 against the fillies and mares and hasn’t ruled out a start in the Group 1 $3m Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 4, the first day of ‘The Championships’.
“There are a couple of options after the Coolmore. One is the Doncaster which should suit her very well,” Lipp said.
Lipp is yet to decide if Tinto will go into the Coolmore Classic first up but said there are plenty races available for her if a lead up run in needed.
“If she does need another run it will be in Sydney. There are plenty of lead-in races for her,” Lipp said.
Tinto rose to prominence during the 2014 Brisbane Winter Carnival when the then three year old filly put up a stunning performance to win the Group 1 $400,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm for Tim Bell.
Last Saturday’s win was Tinto’s fifth from seventeen starts and took her prizemoney earnings to $737,100.
