Lipp takes bob of head In His Stride

REX Lipp says he hasn’t been game enough to add up what difference a bob of the head here or there might have made to the prizemoney haul of his talented galloper In His Stride over the past six months.

In His Stride is a key contender in Saturday’s $ 175,000 Glasshouse at Caloundra, where he will try to end a run of frustrating near misses in feature races over the past six months.

“I’ve never wanted to add it all up because I’d probably find it depressing, but I reckon a total of about a length has probably cost him the best part of half a million dollars,” Lipp said. “It’s no good telling the bank manager he’s only a few centimetres off a big payday each time though.”

The Toowoomba trainer’s estimate is a little light. Slim defeats in the Magic Millions QTIS Quality, Sunshine Coast Cup and Eye Liner Stakes that added up to a combined 0.6 lengths have cost In His Stride $ 550,000 this calendar year.

Can the big race curse be broken on Saturday? Lipp has learnt not to make bold predictions when it comes to the fast finishing four- year- old.

“He’s a horse that just has to have everything go his way from the turn to finish over the top of them,” Lipp said.

“You can’t ride him any other way. We’ve tried to ride him a bit closer, but it just hasn’t worked. That means we’ve come home from the races plenty of times with hard luck stories. It’s been frustrating, but he’s still won more than $ 500,000. One of these days he will win a big one.”

Lipp noted In His Stride has been racing since October last year.

In that time he’s had 14 starts, for just the lone win and eight minor placings.

In His Stride went up a $ 14 chance in Glasshouse markets yesterday.