Express Air flies past the post
|
Express Air (Jason Holder) fight it out for the QTIS 3YO Handicap (Noel Pascoe photo)
|
Express Air has come out on top to win the Grunt Labour Hire QTIS 3YO Handicap 1300m at Eagle Farm on Saturday, September 20.
Ridden by Jason Holder, Express Air (F3 Piccolo GB-Air’s Precious) was last from the jump but slowly started creeping up along the outside. Down the straight they upped the pace and fought it out with $1.95 race favourite Zero Rock (Brad Pengelly) to win by a short neck.
“We didn’t expect to be back that far but she just lost all gate speed and obviously she got back and that’s where she lost her travels,” said trainer and part-owner Rex Lipp.
“She travels very nice and she doesn’t do anything more than what she has to. She’s a very relaxed filly and that’s why she got so far back but she finished very strongly.”
Love de Cause (Scott Seamer) followed in third by a half length.
A fortnight earlier Express Air placed second to the then unbeaten Zero Rock so Lipp was very happy with the latest win.
“Last time we were hampered at the barriers, got checked at the barriers which didn’t help us much. It was nice to turn to tables on a filly that was unbeaten so it just makes us feel a bit more special,” he said.
Express Air won her maiden at Toowoomba on August 23 by a whopping eight lengths.
From her four starts she has won $80,400 in prizemoney including $31,900 in QTIS bonuses for connections who also own her dam Air’s Precious.
“We bought her mother. The syndicate that races the filly bought the dam at the yearling sales. This is her first foal so a few years ago now,” said Lipp.
“She showed a lot of potential but unfortunately she did her knee and she never ever saw the race track; even a barrier trial. She showed me so much potential we decided we’d keep her and we bred the mare to Piccolo and this is the end result.”
Having her first start in early August, Lipp is pleased with the way Express Air has developed.
“She was never going to be an early two-year-old,” he said.
“We got behind with EI of course but it’s probably a blessing in disguise. I wouldn’t be blaming EI because she’s a lovely big strong filly and I think time’s been the key factor to her, to give her the time she’s had and she’s developed into a lovely filly.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – September 22
|
