Distance fear for Cifrado in Swiss Ace

By Glenn Davis

Barrier trial form can often be misleading but trainer Rex Lipp has taken heart from two recent wins from Group 2-winner Cifrado ahead of his return in the Swiss Ace Plate at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Cifrado - a Boris Thornton mount - steps out for the first time in the 1000 metre feature since finishing fifth in the Group 3 Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast in the middle of July.

The four-year-old hasn’t won since his Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate victory at Doomben in December last year.

Lipp then hoped the son of Encryption would head to the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June but he did not qualify when running well below his best in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm on June 1.

“He had a few issues before and during his last campaign but I’m happy with the way he’s going now,” Lipp said.

“He was very coltish so we had to geld him then he struck a few wet tracks.

“He’s had two barrier trials at Toowoomba and Warwick and won both.

“While he didn’t beat much, his trials were very good.

“I know Caloundra has a big straight, which should suit him, but I’m a bit worried the Swiss Ace might be too short.”

Cifrado is being aimed at the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival including the Magic Millions QTIS race at the Gold Coast in January.

“There’s a few nice races for him during the summer which will be his main aim before the Magic Millions,” Lipp said.

The 76-year-old Lipp has claimed two Group 1s during his career and still dreams of claiming Queensland’s premier sprint, the Stradbroke Handicap.

His two majors were with Star Shiraz in the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes in 2004 and with Tinto in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, both at Eagle Farm, in 2014.

Cifrado has proven himself three times at Group level.

As well as his Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate victory, Cifrado claimed the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes and Spirit Of Boom Classic, formerly Champagne Classic, at Doomben as a two-year-old last year.

Cifrado was a $320,000 buy as a yearling and has already amassed almost $1.8 million in prize money with four wins and five placings from 18 starts.