Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp's habit of winning feature races when least expected will be tested with stablemates Sequential Charm and Seconde in the Listed Carlton Draught Classic at Eagle Farm.Lipp has been a rare visitor to Brisbane racetracks in recent months and leans to Seconde as his better hope of winning the 1200-metre feature on Saturday.Lipp bobbed up to win the Group Two Prince Minister's Cup (2400m) at the Gold Coast with Laurinel Argie five years ago before claiming his first Group O
Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp's habit of winning feature races when least expected will be tested with stablemates Sequential Charm and Seconde in the Listed Carlton Draught Classic at Eagle Farm.
Lipp has been a rare visitor to Brisbane racetracks in recent months and leans to Seconde as his better hope of winning the 1200-metre feature on Saturday.
Lipp bobbed up to win the Group Two Prince Minister's Cup (2400m) at the Gold Coast with Laurinel Argie five years ago before claiming his first Group One race with Star Shiraz in the Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm the following year.
Sequential Charm continued Lipp's giant-killing deeds two years ago with an upset victory over glamour filly Gold Edition in the Listed Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben before leaving Ron Maund's champion in her wake again when she won last year's Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Sequential Charm made her comeback following her below-par winter carnival performances when she finished ninth to Bold Reason over 1200 metres at Doomben on November 1.
Seconde made her spring return with a last-start 10th, beaten just four lengths, to Vive Le Roi over 1030 metres at Doomben a week later.
Lipp believes a heavy track will be more to Seconde's liking and has some concerns with a month between runs for Sequential Charm who drew a horror barrier, 17, while her stablemate will jump from 13.
"Sequential Charm's got to run but she's drawn badly and hasn't started for a month," Lipp said.
"I was very pleased with her last run when she was back last on the turn.
"Glen (Colless) couldn't get at her down the entire straight when she was sandwiched between two runners.
"She can handle a heavy track but Seconde is better in the wet than her."
Lipp believes the four-kilogram difference in weights also favours Seconde.
"The weight on a heavy track also goes in Seconde's favour," Lipp said.
"Her first-up run was good enough but it was just too short for her and she's better off at 1200 metres."
Lipp is directing Seconde to the Magic Millions carnival in January and hopefully on to the Brisbane winter carnival if she measures up.
Sequential Charm's immediate campaign is being aimed at the last two legs of next month's Doomben summer series, the Listed Doomben Stakes (1350m) and Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m).
Eagle Farm was rated a heavy nine at acceptance time Thursday following 32 millimetres of overnight rain and the forecast was for more rain on Friday.