By Glenn Davis
Trainer Rex Lipp hopes to be both a buyer and seller at the Magic Millions March yearling sales if all goes to plan at Doomben on Saturday.
Lipp’s Red Stina and debutant Makemyday will attempt to qualify for the $250,000 QTIS Jewel at the Gold Coast on March 17 when they clash in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Both have drawn perfectly in barriers two and three respectively.
The QTIS Jewel will be followed by the two-day Magic Millions sales starting on March 19 where Lipp has four yearlings going under the hammer.
Red Stina made a huge impression flashing home to run second to Only Wanna Sing in her debut at Doomben on February 17 while Makemyday, a son of Spirit Of Boom, ran second in a Toowoomba barrier trial earlier this month.
Lipp has a big opinion of Red Stina who was a cheapie $8,000 buy at last year’s sales and rates her favourably to his former Group 1 winners Tinto and Star Shiraz.
”Red Stina shows me as much ability as what Tinto and Star Shiraz did at the same time of their careers,” Lipp said.
Red Stina was bred at Eureka Stud on Queensland’s famous Darling Down but was bought by Lipp’s wife Ros, who sold a minor share to Annabel Raff and Grania McAlpine, wife of Eureka Stud principal Scott McAlpine.
McAlpine and Rath both raced Tinto who gave Lipp his second Group 1 victory in the 2014 Queensland Oaks.
Lipp had no hesitation declaring Red Stina as his preferred choice to make the QTIS Jewel field.
“I’m not sure what the cut off point will be to qualify for the QTIS Jewel but I’d say one would need to win to get in,” Lipp said.
“Red Stina would have won her first start had she not slipped on the home turn.
“Both her back legs went from under her and she only just got beaten.”
Lipp plans to give Red Stina a short break after the QTIS Jewel if she qualifies ahead of a Brisbane winter campaign.
“If she gets into the race she’ll probably have a short break after it and aim for some of the winter two-year-old races,” he said.
“Makemyday is a very handy colt but he’s still got a lot to learn,” Lipp said.
Racing Queensland webnews February 28