Gelding does the trick with Cifrado in Vo Rogue Plate

Rex Lipp’s decision to geld Cifrado has reaped another Group win with the three-year-old storming to victory in Saturday’s Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben.

The son of Encryption has always had ability, as demonstrated by his win in the Group 2 Queensland Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), but the Toowoomba trainer felt he was never going to fulfil his true ability as a racehorse while a colt.

The decision was made to geld him after he beat home just one rival in the Listed Keith Noud Classic (1200m) on November 11 and the Vo Rogue Plate was his second start as a gelding after a sixth placing in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) on December 16.

“He had a fortnight in the paddock out at my property, we put him into work, then we gave him a very soft trial,” Lipp said.

“It was a fantastic run the other day, I do believe he was one of those unlucky runs in the race, but today just proved that he’s a different this time in now he’s been gelded.”

Cifrado settled near the rear in the Vo Rogue Plate and was brought to the centre of the track by jockey Damien Thornton and unleashed a powerful final 300m to reel in the Chris Waller-trained Chrysaor, who looked the winner after striking the front 100m from home.

But Cifrado ($11) wore down the well-backed $3.30 second elect, scoring by half-a-length with $21 chance Ringer’s Reward three-quarters-of-a-length away third.

The disappointment of the race was $2.70 leading betting app favourite Show Me Mercy, who travelled just behind the leading division and was presented to challenge early in the straight but was beaten soon after and finished sixth, beaten more than 3-1/2 lengths.

Now that he is back in form, Cifrado will head to the $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 13.