Cifrado on verge of joining million-dollar club

By Glenn Davis

Talented sprinter Cifrado will become the second $1 million prize money earner for veteran Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp if successful in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate at Doomben on Saturday.

Cifrado – a Damien Thornton mount – lines up for his fourth start this campaign in the 1350-metre feature.

The son of Encryption has started 11 times for three wins and as many placings taking his prize money haul to $899,275.

He will join Lipp’s former star Tinto in the bracket of $1 million-plus earners if he collects first prize of $174,000.

Tinto won $1.46 million prize money with seven wins and five placings from 26 starts including her famous win in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks in 2014.

“I’ve only had one horse to win $1 million in prize money and that was Tinto,” Lipp said.

“It would be great if Cifrado can do it in the Vo Rogue but we’ve still got the Magic Millions Guineas to come.”

Lipp, 76, is in the twilight of his training career but still keeps busy with 16 horses in his stable.

Cifrado is being aimed at the $3 million Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on January 13 and Lipp is hopeful the gelding is ready to produce his best.

Lipp is seeking his second win in the Vo Rogue following Sequential Charm’s victory in 2006.

Cifrado was gelded after an average run in the Listed Keith Noud Stakes at Doomben on November 11 when he beat only one home behind the Rob Heathcote-trained Extremist.

Owner Cliff Little has been a long time client of Lipp and knocked back a $2.2 million offer from Hong Kong after Cifrado won the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm in May.

Cifrado previously claimed the Group 2 Champagne Classic at Doomben two weeks earlier when he went into the race as a maiden performer.

A $320,000 buy as a yearling, Cifrado is a half-brother to Tony Gollan’s former flyer Miami Fleiss, a winner of five of her nine starts and more than $430,000 in prize money.

Lipp tried to qualify Cifrado for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last January but missed securing enough prize money after failing in the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes at Doomben.

In latest markets for the Magic Millions Guineas, Cifrado is $26 chance behind four rivals, Abounding, Chrysaor, Keenan and Show Me Mercy who shares favouritism at $8.