Damian Browne is set to ride Toowoomba mare Tinto in a Sydney campaign which could include three Group One races.
Tinto has pleased trainer Rex Lipp since she returned from a short let-up following her win in the $1 million Magic Millions Cup on January 9.
Lipp said Tinto would run in the Group Three Guy Walter Stakes at Randwick on February 27 and then press on to the Group One Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on March 12.
Tinto has also been nominated for races during The Championships at Randwick – the Doncaster Mile on April 2 and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Queen of the Turf Stakes on April 9.
“I am not certain which way we will go after the Coolmore. She has shown she can be competitive at 1600 metres in Sydney with her second in the Villiers last December,” Lipp said.
“But she has also won over further and the 2000 of the Queen Elizabeth would suit as well.”
Tinto won the 2014 Queensland Oaks over 2400m but has not been tried at the distance since.
Lipp is a big fan of Browne who has ridden the mare to her past two wins.
“Damian can get horses to settle on the bit and travel into races. He is an international standard jockey,” Lipp said.
Tinto can join an elite group of Queensland mares if she wins an interstate Group One race.
Although the state has produced its fair share of good horses, most of them have been male.
Tinto’s $1,448,434 makes her the third highest prize money winning female horse from Queensland.
She can conceivably become Queensland’s best-performed mare in the autumn which would be a great return on a horse passed in at sale for $6500.
Queensland mares to win interstate open Group One races in the past 70 years include Bright Shadow (BMW), Just Now (Turnbull Stakes), Gold Edition (Manikato Stakes) With Me (Oakleigh Plate)and Regimental Gal (Australia Stakes).
