Winless since November 2016, New Tipperary was looking like a horse whose best days were behind him, but in what may have been a career-best performance the six-year-old son of High Chaparral (IRE) scored a storming win in Friday's Group III Australian Bloodstock Cameron Hcp (1500m).
With a hot speed set by Arbeitsam, Tim Clark came with a well-timed run on New Tipperary to defeat Red Excitement (Excites) by a length with Best Of Days (GB) three-quarter of a length back in third. (photo Steve Hart).
It was the first black-type win for New Tipperary advancing his record to 7 wins and 2 seconds from 24 starts with earnings of $451,225.
Trainer Joe Pride said the winner's form was better than it looked on paper.
"He should have won the Scone Cup second up last preparation, he was tragically unlucky," Pride said.
"It was good to see him get in the clear today. It was a really good win over what looked to be a pretty good field.
"He's a High Chaparral so it's reasonable to believe he would get better with age. He's a six-year-old but is only lightly raced. He was well-handled today and that's not the last time we will see him win."
A $120,000 purchase by Joe Pride Racing from the Eliza Park International draft at the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, New Tipperary is one of four winners from six to race out of the Danehill mare Assertiveness who is a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner Assertive Lad and dual Group 1 winner Assertive Lass the dam of Reset.
Assertiveness has had just one live foal since New Tipperary an Artie Schiller colt names County Tipperary. She was covered by Ready For Victory last spring but slipped.
New Tipperary becomes the 119th stakes-winner for High Chaparral (IRE) who died in December 2014.
