Veteran trainer Rex Lipp is in a good place this week.
Lipp is able to look back at Tycoon Evie’s win last Saturday with satisfaction and look forward to Gem Of Scotland’s return to action this coming Saturday with anticipation … making it an exciting view looking both backward and forward.
Tycoon Evie struck for the second time in a row at Eagle Farm on Saturday to take her record to three wins from eight starts. She has only finished out of the first three places once and that was in the last start of her first preparation after which she was put out for a four month break from action.
This time in Tycoon Evie finished second in her first two starts after resuming (over 1000m and 1200m) before putting those back-to-back wins together (over 1400m and 1600m).
Adding interest to Tycoon Evie’s progress is the fact that she is a full sister to the very classy Winning Rupert, who won five out of his six starts before his career was cut short by injury.
“Tycoon Evie is spelling at the moment. She is on an upward path,” said Lipp.
“We’ll be looking at the Queensland Guineas or the Fillies Series.
‘The chap who owns the majority share in Tycoon Evie … Jeff Cullen from Wicklow Lodge … he bred her.” (Cullen bred Winning Rupert as well … both are out of the Show A Heart broodmare Winaura).
“He’s been talking about given me a filly to train for a couple of years now and this is the first filly he has actually kept back to race himself and I’ve got her. Everything is good.”
Turning around now to look forward to Saturday’s meeting at the Sunshine Coast where the very well performed, Lipp trained mare Gem Of Scotland is due to resume in what will be her first run for eleven months.
“At this stage we are probably leaning towards the 1200m race on Saturday,” said Lipp. “I’m still to finally decide what I am going to do … but, look, I am happy with the way she has come back.
“As always, you don’t really know until race-day … but everything is positive at this stage.”
Gem Of Scotland has already raced up to Group 2 level. She has won six out of ten starts and, perhaps significantly here, she has won three out of four starts first-up.
“There are a lot of people looking forward to her return. Like I say, everything is coming along well with her. So far, so good!”
Lipp was also happy to mention Simply Fly as a horse to watch in the coming weeks.
‘Simply Fly (Spirit Of Boom – Express Air) has won four out of six career starts (the last three on the trot). Spirit Of Boom is currently one of the leading sires while Express Air, who was trained by Lipp, has a Queensland Guineas win to her credit.
“He’s doing well, and he will be going towards The Jewel at the Gold Coast (on March 13).
“He is a very promising horse.”
