AQUA ALTA'S CONSISTENCY GETS ITS REWARD

By Graham Potter | Saturday, August 5, 2023

The Rex Lipp trained Aqua Alta claimed her fourth win from only fourteen starts when she landed a BM78 contest over 1600m at Eagle Farm on August 5.

Seven of the last eight runs of Aqua Alta leading into this race had been at Metropolitan level over distances ranging from 1350m to 2020m … and on half of those occasions she finished less than a length behind the winner, so she certainly had positive credentials on the table.

Jumping from a number ten barrier, Aqua Alta ($6) was held four wide soon after the start, but jockey Mark Du Plessis knew exactly where he wanted to be and he didn’t back off until he had been able to cross and sit in second place, one out, within three-quarters-of-a-length of the frontrunning Hostage Of War, a $91 bolter.

Du Plessis then cuddled the daughter of Altius, maintaining a steady, managed tempo while holding the prime position to strike at the leader, a position he maintained with apparent ease all the way through the sweep to the home turn.

On straightening, it was a different matter.

Now Du Plessis and Aqua Alta were all business, surging forward to lay down the challenge to Hostage Of War, who quickly succumbed to the pressure.

That left Aqua Alta galloping strongly in the lead with 200m left to run where she already had every other runner … with the exception of the $9 chance Titanium … well and truly beaten.

Titanium did emerge as a threat though, running on strongly through the gap offered between the tiring Hostage Of War and the free flowing Aqua Alta.

With 100m left to run, Titanium had got to within three-quarters-of-a-length of the Lipp trained runner, but Aqua Alta held fast, her run to the line never missing a beat as she not only pegged back Titanium, whose run appeared to have peaked, but she also managed to finish the stronger of the two to score by 1.20 lengths.

The $48 800 first prize took Aqua Alta’s career earnings to a very healthy $121 500 and improved her race record to four wins and four places from fourteen starts.

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