Tua Lipa toughs it out in impressive Gore win

By Jonny Turner 

If bravery awards were being handed out at Gore yesterday, Tua Lipa would've been a deserving winner.

The pacer produced a brilliantly tenacious performance in blustery and chilly conditions to take out the first running of the Alan Steel Memorial.

The five-year-old and driver Ellie Barron were denied the lead and had to race parked in the testing conditions in what was clearly the fastest time of Sunday's six 2200m races.

Tua Lipa brushed off that extra exertion when powering clear in the straight before having the audacity to prick his ears and cruise to the line to score for trainer Shane Matheson.

While such a tough trip may have had other horses gasping at the 400m, it actually allowed the pacer to show his best.

"He is a funny wee fella and we have found that he has to be up on the speed and able to keep his own momentum going,” Matheson said.

"It has taken a while but we think that is the key to him."

"When he gets back and has to come wide it doesn't suit him at all."

A tough draw in his last start seventh in a Southern Surge Final provided proof of Matheson's theory.

Tua Lipa's tendency to throw in the odd rough step when coming from back and wide meant that it wasn't until the race was effectively over that he rushed home late.

In his previous start at Oamaru, Tua Lipa built momentum from the 600m and powered to a strong win in what was his first standing start.

His staying prowess, combined with his ability to step away cleanly from the tapes means there are all sorts of options ahead for the talented pacer.

"Standing starts are going to be his go, so we will keep him going and aim him at some of those races,” Matheson said.

Tua Lipa is raced by Matheson and his partner Lisa Barrie, alongside their Northern Southland neighbours Noddy and Jane Orr.

The pacer's victory provided reward for Barrie, the president of the Gore Harness Racing Club, who spearheaded her team's efforts to hold Sunday's meeting in the most testing of weather conditions.

The Matheson and Barron combination made it two-from-two on the six-race Gore card when Rylan Charlie also scored.

Rylan Charlie is a half-brother to nine-race winner Sherwood Maggie, who has placed on an incredible 43 occasions.

Though the younger brother hasn't quite matched that yet, his record is building with more age and more racing.

"He is a bit like Sherwood Maggie, it is a breed that doesn't get going until they are a bit older,” Matheson said. 

"The key to him is he loves Gore, we just wish we could race there more often."

Sunday's win was Rylan Charlie's second in six starts at Gore and the fifth of his career. 

The pacer is bred and raced by another Northern Southlander in Judy Dillon.