Maiden win for new training venture edges closer

By Glenn Davis

The latest training partnership of Rex Lipp and Nick Hahn is yet to land its first winner but it won’t be long judging by the comeback performances of Simply Fly and Tycoon Evie at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The 73-year-old began a training partnership earlier this month with Toowoomba’s Nicholas Hahn and have yet to strike success from its seven starters.

Simply Fly and stablemate Tycoon Evie made their comebacks in a Class 6 Handicap over 1000 metres and both performed up to expectations.

Simply Fly finished a game second to the Tony Gollan-trained Le Palmier who led all the way while Tycoon Evie did her work best to finish fourth.

“Nic and I started our training partnership about two weeks ago and it’s something I’ve wanted to do to take some of the pressure off,” Lipp said.

“Nick is a Toowoomba boy and his Dad used to be a driver for Higgins Transport so racing is in his blood.

“Nick was training on his own and trained his first winner at Toowoomba last month before we decided to join forces.

“He used to work for Michael Nolan and had some experience working with Peter Moody before he started training on his own.”

Lipp was delighted with Simply Fly’s performance and will press ahead with summer carnival plans which include the Group 3 George Moore Stakes at Eagle Farm in December.

“I was very happy with his run considering he over-raced in the early stages,” Lipp said.

“I’m not saying he should have won but he would have finished a lot closer had he settled better.”

Lipp also was pleased with Tycoon Evie’s effort to finish fourth, just over three lengths behind Le Palmier.

“She couldn’t go with them in the early stages but she hit the line strongly,” he said.

“Like Simply Fly, she needed the run and had a big blow after the race.

“She’s going well and will head to the fillies and mares' races in the summer.”

Lipp has considered giving training away several times in recent years before scaling back on his stable numbers after being one of Toowoomba’s biggest trainers with over 60 horses in work at the height of his career.