By Dylan Mutu
The postponement of any race, let alone two features during the Queensland carnival, is a frustrating moment for any trainer when preparing their horses. Although, the Toowoomba-based Lipp and Hahn partnership can now identify it as a blessing in disguise after snatching a stakes double at Doomben on Saturday.
It had been a long while since Simply Fly put a win on the board for the team, but all that came to an end when the 2021 three-year-old QTIS Jewel champion – which was the gelding’s last victory – cruised to a one and a-half-length triumph in the Listed Chief De Beers.
The four-year-old was ridden quietly by comeback hoop Tegan Harrison in transit, gaining some easy sectionals on the fence in a fast-run race, which was led by Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic-winning mare Centrefire.
It was not until the final 600 metres that the Queenslander got to work.
The 33-year-old jockey trailed Boomtown Lass and Usmanov into the turn and made the tough decision to switch to the inside rail to squeeze past both.
The move helped the son of Spirit of Boom kick into another gear through the final furlong, overtaking the tired Chris Munce runner with ease to put an end to Simply Fly’s 483-day drought.
Co-trainer Rex Lipp was over the moon with the ride.
“I said to ride him ugly and that if he wants to over race, just to let him roll a little bit and whatever you do, just don’t go looking for runs,” Lipp said.
“He is a horse you must get to the outside eventually and he can roll off a nice 600 metres, especially the last 400.
“It is about time somebody got him out of the barriers well. Tegan certainly did that, she rode him beautifully.”
Despite it not all going to plan, Harrison was happy to get the victory.
“Well, the plan was to come down the outside, but I knew it wasn’t going to happen,” she said.
“I had plenty of horse underneath me, so I elected to change course and sometimes when you do that quickly, it can put them off balance, but I had plenty of horse and he was always going to pick up and go.
“He has had a few little quirks along the way, but I have probably got on him at the right time.
"He is all grown up now and was certainly a dream ride, I am just happy to be on him when it counted.”
The fun didn’t stop there for the boys from Darling Downs, backing up with a well-executed stakes double through Tycoon Evie.
With a step up in distance, lighter weight, and a much better surface than her last-start fourth in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic, it was safe to say that all the signs were pointing to a Group 3 Pam O’Neill victory for the Toowoomba team.