Tinto Goes Back to Back With Emotional Win

Tinto Goes Back to Back With Emotional Win

Connections of popular galloper Tinto were thanking the heavens after their tough mare successfully defended her crown in the Crown Resorts Magic Millions Trophy (1800m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

The Rex Lipp-trained mare, passed in for $6500 at the 2012 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, was given the result over the fast-finishing Feltre in the $1 million feature after the judge went to the photo.

Lipp praised jockey Damian Browne for a brilliant ride on the daughter of Red Dazzler, before dedicating the win to Tinto’s once regular rider, the late Tim Bell.

“He couldn’t have ridden her any better, it was a perfect ride, 10 out of 10,” Lipp said.

“She never knows when to lie down, this mare

“She’s just a great trier and you only have to look at her weight today, she had 59.5 and the second horse had 54, to see what a great effort it was.

“As Damian said, this one is for Timmy (Bell) and I’m sure he was up there helping us.”

After settling in a midfield position on the fence, Browne weaved a charmed passage to the outside at the 600 metre mare, with Tinto fighting tenaciously up the straight.

Like Lipp, Browne paid tribute to Bell, the jockey who partnered the mare to four wins, including the 2014 Queensland Oaks at Group 1 level and the Magic Millions Trophy 12 months ago.

“I wasn’t sure whether I got there or not but I certainly got some help from above,” Browne said.

“I got a great run throughout but I hit the front too soon and Feltre really came at me hard so I think it was the big fella upstairs that got me over the last bit.

“Timmy had a long association with this mare so it’s just great to get a win for him.”