FILLY’S “KNOCKOUT CHANCE” IN THE COAST

LEADING Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is giving Australian Oaks placegetter You Wahng a “little knockout chance” in tomorrow’s Gosford stand-alone feature.

The $500,000 The Coast (1600m) for three and four-year-olds headlines the 10-race metropolitan stand-alone program, and is an important part of the filly’s program aimed at the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm next month.

Lees won The Coast three years ago with subsequent inaugural Big Dance winner Rustic Steel, and has freshened You Wahng since her close third to star Melbourne filly Treasurethe Moment in the Group 1 Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 12.

“You Wahng should get a nice run from the inside barrier, and the rain around will help her chances,” he said this morning.

“She has freshened up nicely and, being lightly raced, still has plenty of upside.

“I’m giving her a little knockout chance.”

You Wahng will go next to the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 24, and then the $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight later.

Andrew Gibbons rides You Wahng at her 53kg, and has partnered the daughter of So You Think in both her wins to date – and in fact is unbeaten on her.

He won a 1400m Maiden Plate on You Wahng on heavy ground at Scone last September, and then a 1400m Class 1 Handicap there on February 16 when she resumed.

Brudenell (Listed Takeover Target Stakes, 1200m), Power Of The Brave (Thunder Thousand Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1000m), and Memoria (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1200m) will be Lees’ other Gosford representatives.

Aaron Bullock rides Brudenell, and stable apprentices Will Stanley and Ben Osmond partner Power Of The Brave and Memoria respectively.

Lees withdrew Brudenell from the Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush (1100m) last Saturday in favour of the Takeover Target, which he has won on three occasions (Captain Bax in 2008, Tactical Advantage 2019 and Enchanted Heart 2021).

“Brudenell hasn’t started since the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 1 when he drew awkwardly and had to race wide throughout,” Lees said.

“He won a tick-over trial at Wyong on April 24 and should get his chance this time from a better alley.

“Power Of The Brave is in good form and, though up in class, will appreciate dropping in weight.

“This is a really good prizemoney race ($200,000), and he deserves his chance to have a crack at it.

“Memoria ran slick time in winning at Randwick last start, and has trained on well.

“The first 400m will tell the story, but I’m sure she will give another good account of herself.”

. Lees also accepted with Bestower and Infancy at Gosford, but has decided to send them north to run at the Queensland winter carnival meeting at the Gold Coast tomorrow.

Andrew Mallyon rides Bestower in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (2000m), and James McDonald is on Infancy in the Listed ATC Trophy (1200m).

“Both races look better options than Gosford for the pair,” Lees said.

“Bestower is fit after three runs back and has drawn well enough, whilst Infancy is in really good order.

“The gap between runs (she won the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes, 1200m at Randwick on April 12 on resumption) suits her, and a number of scratchings has reduced the field to 11 runners.”

Story John Curtis, May 9, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos