Rex Lipp has conceded Dual Chamber will need to be in career-best form if she is to end the trainer’s city drought in the Listed Travel Associates Classic at Eagle Farm.
Lipp, who has been one of the top trainers in Queensland for the past 15 years, can’t recall his last Brisbane winner.
“I think it might be Blackwoods Choice (in October last year) but I haven’t had many city runners,” Lipp said.
Lipp reached the pinnacle of his career when claiming his only Group One success so far in the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm in 2004 with Star Shiraz.
Star Shiraz almost gave Lipp a second win at the elite level when runner-up to Outback Prince in the TJ Smith at Eagle Farm the same year.
Dual Chamber has continued Lipp’s run of bad barrier draws with gate 15 for Saturday’s 1200-metre feature.
The four-year-old has not started since finishing fifth to Fifteen Carat in the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at Caloundra on July 3.
Lipp is confident of a strong comeback from the daughter of Show A Heart, who has been successful only once from four attempts first-up.
He has taken some heart for a good performance from Dual Chamber after the mare won two recent barrier trials on her home track at Toowoomba.
“She led in both trials but the opposition wasn’t strong,” Lipp said.
“She’s fit and well and hopefully will run well but the barrier is a major problem.”
Dual Chamber’s form didn’t quite measure up during the winter when she competed in black-type races.
“She’s a very good mare and she’s going as well now as when she won the (Listed) Bright Shadow at Doomben (in April),” Lipp said.
In her subsequent starts Dual Chamber finished 13th to Stryker in the Group Three BTC Classic at Doomben on May 22, 10th to Girl Hussler in the Listed Daybreak Lover at Eagle Farm on June 5 and ninth to Kryptelon in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic two weeks later before her Sunshine Coast run.
Kembla trainer Paul Murray is delighted with Phenomenal Lass’ barrier eight but insists the weather will determine if she starts.
Phenomenal Lass arrived in Brisbane at 3.30am (AEST) on Thursday with stablemate Beautiful Timing who has the visitor’s draw, barrier 18, in Saturday’s Country Cup (1200m).
Four-year-old mare Phenomenal Lass is backing up after finishing second to Pyrography over 1100 metres at Rosehill last week.
“The track has to stay good for her to start. If we get any rain and it’s dead she won’t run,” Murray said.
“She’s a good chance so long as she can back-up.
“Her last run at Rosehill hasn’t worried her and she hasn’t taken any harm from the trip up.
“I brought her and Beautiful Timing up on my truck. It’s new and I wanted to see how it went so I put the two of them on and headed to Brisbane.”