Rex Lipp eyes Ipswich success with El Pensador
Nine races and close to 10 months have passed without a win for El Pensador, but his trainer Rex Lipp anticipates a breakthrough at Monday's Ipswich fixture.
This So You Think gelding seeks to follow up an encouraging fresh run in the second-last affair, namely the Seven News BM68 Handicap at 1350 metres.
Resuming with third spot over 1400m at Eagle Farm on April 8, the five-year-old registered his first podium finish post his July success at Ipswich, assuring Lipp of his excellent form.
"Last preparation I just had a few few little niggling things from after he came up from Melbourne," Lipp said.
"It took a while to sort him out, but he seems to be back on track now."
Lipp has guided El Pensador to all three of his career triumphs across 20 starts, succeeding the two poor showings under Tony and Calvin McEvoy in Victoria.
Lipp intends to stretch the horse to 1800m down the line but holds no worries over the initial 50m drop in distance.
"I wanted to give him another run over the 1350 before I step him up to the mile," he said.
"He's going to run a mile, even 1800 this horse, but I just want to get him right."
From Victoria too comes Lipp's other contender Arcelia, entering her sophomore run for the Toowoomba mentor in race two, the Great Northern Maiden Handicap over 1200m.
After three efforts with Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, the Japanese mare impressed with third over 1100m at Gatton on April 10 for her stable introduction, lifting Lipp's spirits.
"It's taken a while to get her right, get her balanced and get her going," Lipp said.
"She went to Melbourne, so we've had to get her going the other way, but I give her a good chance if everything pans out OK in the run."
Claiming apprentice Corey Sutherland, off 1.5kg, steers Arcelia from post eight, as Angela Jones pilots El Pensador out of stall 13, adjusting to 12 if no emergencies enter the field of 16.
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