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Gear change to spark Red Stina revival

2 August 2018

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Rex Lipp is hoping a gear change can turn around the fortunes of his promising filly Red Stina at Doomben on Saturday.

Lipp has decided to use blinkers for the first time on Red Stina in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1630m).

Red Stina has started only five times and is still a maiden but has placed on three occasions.

The daughter of Red Dazzler was beaten less than two lengths at her most recent outing when third to the highly rated Miss Quaintly at Doomben on July 21.

“She got too far back against Miss Quaintly so I’m putting blinkers on her which hopefully will see her race a lot closer,” Lipp said.

“She’s done well since the run and her work has been good.”

Lipp has a big opinion of Red Stina who was a cheap $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 Downs 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 decided not to test Red Stina in better company during the winter carnival.

“I didn’t worry about the bigger winter races with her,” he said.

“She’s still immature and you won’t see the best of her until next campaign.

“Win, lose or draw she’ll be going to the paddock after Saturday.”

Lipp’s major concern with Red Stina is the small six horse field.

“The small field is her biggest worry if they walk up front," he said.

"But that’s why the blinkers are going on to sharpen her up so she can race a bit closer."

Meanwhile Lipp cannot fault In His Stride ahead of his assignment in the Tim Bell Memorial Open Handicap (1110m).

In His Stride has not raced since finishing ninth to The Monstar at Caloundra on June 2.

“He’s drawn barrier 11 which is not the best but he’s freshened up well and is working strongly on the tracks,” Lipp said.

“He didn’t handle the wet track at Caloundra last start but he always races best fresh.

“He’s been a good horse and has been beaten in photos a couple of times in big races.”

 Racing Queensland webnews   August 2