CLARK BACK ON “GUARD” FOR PREMIER’S CUP KICK-OFF

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TIM Clark will be reunited with Newcastle Horse Of The Year Changingoftheguard in his spring campaign opener at Royal Randwick next Saturday.

The Sydney Cup winner kicks off in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2000m), with trainer Kris Lees expecting he will get around 59kg under the Quality conditions of the race.

Stable apprentice Will Stanley rode the eight-year-old gelding in an exhibition gallop between races at Broadmeadow yesterday.

“Changingoftheguard is in good order, and the Premier’s Cup is the right race to get him started again,” Lees said this morning.

“There are staying races every week after that, and he might even go to Melbourne.

“Obviously we’re hoping he makes his way to another crack at the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.”

Jason Collett, nearing the end of a Japanese riding sojourn but not home for next Saturday’s meeting, had the mount when the former Irish stayer gamely won the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 11.

“Tim rode Changingoftheguard when he drew the outside barrier (24) and ran ninth in the Melbourne Cup last November,” Lees said.

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Before Changingoftheguard begins a new campaign next week, Lees has a pair of promising three-year-olds kicking off at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow as well as trying to snare another victory with first-up winner Hawker Hall.

Under Focus (Dylan Gibbons) and She’s Extra (Tyler Schiller) line up in a near capacity Listed Rosebud (1100m) field.

Both were winners in their two-year-old seasons, Under Focus was placed at Group 3 level before spelling, and both have had two nice trials in preparation for their resumption.

“Under Focus is a really nice horse, who is on a path hopefully toward the $1m Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 26,” Lees said.

“He has drawn awkwardly tomorrow, and we’re going to have to ride him for luck.

“She’s Extra is a smart filly who has trialled up nicely, and she has drawn much better than the colt.

“She won her first two starts earlier in the year before finishing second at the Kensington track, and had come to the end of her preparation when beaten in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April.”

Lees has given Hawker Hall (James McDonald) three weeks between runs after defeating Istolea Merc and Zouripper first-up in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on July 25.

“He had a week at our farm at Ellalong, and a jumpout here last week,” he said.

“He is in really good order, and this looks another suitable race for him.

“From an inside barrier, he should be hard to beat again.”

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Lees is looking ahead with Hawker Hall to January’s Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast.

He won a Class 6 Plate (1200m) there at this year’s MM carnival, and his recent success was his sixth from only 14 starts.

. Wyong’s three-day spring carnival begins on Sunday with the running of both the Mona Lisa Stakes and Wyong Cup Preludes.

There are 10 acceptors for the Mona Lisa Prelude (1200m), where Sydney mares Just Glamorous (Sam Clipperton) and Mrs Maree (Zac Lloyd) are sharing early favoritism at $3.20.

Last start Brisbane winner Hovland, another Lloyd mount, is at odds-on ($1.90) for the Cup Prelude (2000m).

The eight-race program begins at 12.20pm with the running of the 1600m Class 1 Handicap.

The rail is in the TRUE position, and the track had a ‘Good 4’ rating on Friday morning.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 14, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS