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Express Air set to fly at Eagle Farm

Friday 20 November 2009
By Glenn Davis

Trainer Rex Lipp believes Queensland Guineas winner Express Air could be vulnerable in her comeback at Eagle Farm ahead of an ambitious campaign which could culminate in Sydney next autumn.

Express Air will appear for the first time since failing on a heavy track as favourite in the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas at Caloundra in June when she lines up in Saturday's $100,000 Ferrier Hodgson Stakes (1200m).

The daughter of Piccolo, who was ridden by Melbourne jockey Craig Williams when she won the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June, will have Stathi Katsidis in the saddle for her return.

Express Air has a history of being slow out of the barriers which has cost her victory several times but Lipp is confident he has rectified the four-year-old's problem.

"She has had a problem being slow out of the barriers but hopefully she's over all that now," Lipp said.

"She's been in work for three months and I've given her two barrier trials which she's won and she got away cleanly both times.

"She even beat Sequallan in her last trial and he's a flyer."

Lipp is wary of Express Air's opposition, particularly interstate visitors The Jackal and Youthful Jack.

"This field looks very strong and there's a lot of seasoned sprinters particularly The Jackal and Youthful Jack," he said.

"My mare will run a very good race but the others have fitness on their side and I'd like any rain to stay away.

"Although she won the Queensland Guineas on a heavy track I'd rather see her on top of the ground for her first-up run."

Express Air will run in all three legs of the Doomben summer series which begins next month before a short spell ahead of a Sydney autumn campaign.

"Her next run will be in the George Moore Stakes and she'll go right through the summer series before going out for a short break," Lipp said.

"If she races well in these next few runs we're planning to send her to Sydney in the autumn for the Coolmore."

The Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) will be run at Rosehill in March.

Express Air has competed only once at elite level when she finished eighth to the Bart Cummings-trained Russeting in the Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm, three weeks after her Queensland Guineas triumph.

Express Air jumped from barrier 16 in the Winter Stakes and went back to near the tail of the field before running home strongly to go down by less than 3-1/2 lengths.