By Glenn Davis
Trainer Rex Lipp is confident In His Stride can snap his losing run in feature races in the Listed Keith Noud Quality at Ipswich on Wednesday.
In His Stride has been a frustrating horse to train because of his racing pattern of getting back in his races.
Lipp concedes tactics in the 1200-metre feature will be crucial for In His Stride who came from near last on the home turn to finish a close fifth to Fiery Heights over 1200 metres at Doomben on October 28.
The Keith Noud was due to be run at Doomben last Saturday but was transferred to Ipswich after the final five races were abandoned following heavy rain.
“If you go through his career only about 1-1/2 lengths have cost him about $600,000 in prizemoney,” Lipp said.
“He hasn’t been beaten far in quite a few of the bigger races including the Eye Liner Stakes when he was beaten in photo.”
Although In His Stride prefers big stretches, Lipp expects a strong showing from In His Stride at Ipswich.
“He seems to handle Ipswich,” Lipp said.
“When he ran second in the Eye Liner he got a bad check on the turn so he should have no problems handling the track.
“But pace in the race will be vital for him. He needs a lot of speed and they generally run fast there.
“He’ll be hard to beat and he’s only got 54kgs.”
In His Stride’s task has been made slightly easier following trainer Rod Northam’s decision to scratch Big Money.
“It’s still a hard race even without Big Money,” Lipp said.
But Lipp won’t have to wait long before In His Stride clashes with Big Money with the Group 3 George Moore Stakes and Listed Lough Neagh Stakes which has been pencilled in for both sprinters next month.
“All going well he’ll run in the George Moore and Lough Neagh Stakes but his main aim is the big QTIS race on Magic Millions day,” Lipp said.
Northam made an early decision to scratch Big Money when Ipswich was listed in the slow range.
“I took him to Newcastle for a barrier trial today (Tuesday) and he only went fair,” Northam said.
“I’ve scratched him again from the Keith Noud and his next run up there will be in the George Moore but he won’t run in that either if it’s wet again.”
Racing Queensland webnews November 21