Veteran trainer Rex Lipp has had a number of good horses in his care over the years, but he seldom courts the limelight being far happier to fly under the radar, as he did when sending the Spirit Of Boom filly Esperanza out to claim a debut victory at the juicy odds of $17 earlier this month.
The filly, whose dam Express Air won the Queensland Guineas for Lipp back in 2009, will face the starter for a second time at Eagle Farm on Saturday when she tackles the QTIS Jewel Prelude, Two-Year-Old Fillies Quality Handicap over 1000m where she once again sits at double figure odds at $13.
Emily Lang, who partnered Esperanza to victory, will be riding against her on Saturday when she gets the leg up onto the Tony Gollan trained short-priced favourite Night Market.
Night Market, a daughter of the speedy – also Gollan trained – Group 1 winner Jonker, has yet to taste race action but she did win her only trial by 5.34 lengths, hence her place at the top of the betting boards.
Martin Harley will ride Esperanza.
Lipp will also send out another last start winner in the form of Crypto Miss in the QTIS Jewel Prelude Three-Year-Old Quality Handicap over 1000m.
The daughter of Encryption finished in second place in the last two starts of her previous preparation before resuming again in late January, after close to a five month break from race action, to score in Maiden company over the same track and distance test she faces on Saturday.
In another example of musical saddles, Ben Thompson, who won on Crypto Miss, changes tack to ride the Paul Sailer trained Isti Star in the race, with Emily Lang, who rode Crypto Miss in one of those runner-up finishes, getting back onto the saddle of the Lipp trained runner.
Crypto Miss is currently a $21 chance.
‘We’ll just have to play with the cards we are dealt,” said Lipp.
“The barriers aren’t helpful,” (Esperanza had drawn barrier twelve and Crypto Miss has drawn barrier eleven) and we’ll have to see how the track plays on Saturday with rain being predicted for Thursday night and Friday.
“As far as the horses themselves are concerned … it didn’t surprise me when Esperanza won. She’s come through the run well. Crypto Miss has also done well since her win.
“Let’s put it this way … I couldn’t be happier with both horses.
“I wouldn’t be heading this way if I didn’t think they had a chance.”
