Toowoomba heat theory stands test of time

By Glenn Davis

When it comes to racing in the Queensland summer heat, there’s a long-standing theory among veteran racing enthusiasts which springs to mind.

It’s a tale which has been proven over decades that horses trained on Queensland’s Darling Downs often prove superior to their city counterparts in humid conditions.

The late Hall Of Fame trainer Jim Atkins was a great believer in Toowoomba’s cooler climate being a big advantage over the city slickers in the heat.

And, it was proven again recently when Toowoomba-trained horses took out the three features at Eagle Farm on Grand Prix Stakes day.

Veteran trainer Rex Lipp claimed a feature double with Cifrado winning the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes while stablemate Superalloy claimed the Listed Gold Edition. 

As well as Lipp’s double, the training partnership of Tony and Maddysen Sears won the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes with Beau Dazzler.

Michael Nolan made it four for the Toowoomba locals winning a Benchmark race with Mixed Signals.

Lipp is hopeful his pair of Cifrado in the Magic Millions Buffering and Superalloy in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate will again prove highly competitive at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

“Cifrado’s win in the Lough Neagh was very good but the field did fall away a bit on the heavy track,” Lipp said.

“He should be very competitive again but he always gets back and needs luck in running.

“All going well he’ll head into the Magic Millions QTIS race at the Gold Coast next month then he’ll go out for a break and prepare for the Queensland winter carnival again."

Cifrado has started 21 times in his career for five wins including the Group 2 Champagne Classic at Doomben and the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm last year.

Cifrado also won last year’s Vo Rogue Plate, when it was run at Doomben, and Lipp is hopeful of defending the title with Superalloy following his Gold Edition Plate victory.

“Superalloy is a gutsy little horse and is one of the best three-year-old's in Queensland,” Lipp said.

“He’s very small and only stands about 15 hands.

“This is a very similar race as the Gold Edition so he should race well again and then he’ll go for a spell as he’s not a Magic Millions horse.”

At 76, Lipp may be in the twilight of his training career and has contemplated retirement several times but he’s training as good as ever.