QUEENSLANDER LIPP BACK FOR A CRACK AT THE HUNTER

REX Lipp has a score to settle!

The vastly experienced Queensland and dual Group 1 winning trainer, Toowoomba-based Lipp will start Cifrado in Saturday’s $1m Group 2 The Hunter (1300m) at Broadmeadow.

Twenty-five years have passed by since his last runner at Newcastle.

That was grey gelding Kenconcarne, who started favorite in the Cameron Handicap (then a Listed race over 1400m and now carrying Group 3 status at 1500m) in Sydney’s Olympic Year (2000).

Ten times winner Kenconcarne, ridden by the late Stathi Katsidis, had won races at Doomben and Eagle Farm before finishing second to New Zealand mare Mulan Princess, ironically partnered by another Queenslander and now successful trainer Chris Munce.

“I haven’t been back to Newcastle since, and looking forward to Saturday’s race,” Lipp said this afternoon.

“Cifrado is a very nice horse who won the Group 2 QTC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm two years ago.

“He has won five races and been placed eight times, and is going to Newcastle ready to run well.”

Five-year-old Cifrado resumed when ninth with 60kg in his hometown Weetwood Handicap (1200m) before carrying the same weight when fifth in the Listed Members Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on October 11.

Lipp put blinkers on the gelding next time when he came back sharply in distance for a close fifth in an Open Handicap (1000m) at the same track on November 4.

“Cifrado has never won at 1000m, and he was beaten point three of a length,” Lipp said.

“That run convinced us to have a crack at the Newcastle race.”

Cifrado has 55kg (only 2kg above the limit) in The Hunter and is guaranteed a start, being 11^th in order of ballot (16 can run) prior to acceptances on Wednesday morning.

The gelding is raced by Lotto winner, North Queenslander Cliff Little, who initially sent Lipp a few horses from Cairns to train.

“I sent them back as they weren’t up to winning in our area,” Lipp said.

“Cliff then asked me to buy a young horse for him, and I paid $320,00 on his behalf for Cifrado at the 2022 Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast.

“He is well and truly ahead with him.”

Cifrado was the most expensive yearling from the first crop of champion Lonhro’s brilliant Group 2 winning son Encryption.

Well-named Cifrado (Spanish for encryption or coded) has earned just over $1.7m (the 2023 Sires was worth $610,000 to the winner).

Only six horses are under double figures in the pre-post TAB.com.au market on The Hunter pending the field being declared in the morning.

Sydney trainer Joe Pride, who won the race two years ago with early $4 favorite Coal Crusher, also has Accredited ($6) and Estadio Mestalla ($8) in the “top six”.

Scone trainer Paul Messara’s classy mare Clear Thinking, who won the $2m The Kosziuszko (1200m) first-up at Royal Randwick on October 18, is a shortener from $8 to $6.

. Newcastle trainers Kris Lees and Nathan Doyle were the provincial winners at today’s Gosford meeting.

Lees landed the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1100m) with $6.50 chance Calga Power (Dylan Gibbons), and Ash Morgan partnered $2.90 favorite Just Response, who put up a stout performance after having no luck in the run, to take the Maiden Plate (1200m) for Doyle.

Story John Curtis, November 11, 2025 - Pic Kevin Farmer