“GUARD” TRIALS AT HOME EN ROUTE TO MELBOURNE

SYDNEY Cup winner Changingoftheguard will trial at Newcastle in the morning en route to a two-State campaign.

Andrew Gibbons will ride the gelding in a 1200m Open heat at the Beaumont track at 8.30am.

“It’s three weeks since he won the Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick during The Championships,” leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees said today.

“The trial will help keep him ticking over before he heads south to Melbourne for his next start.”

That will be in the $300,000 Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday week.

The Ramsden winner gets a “free ticket” into the $10m Melbourne Cup (3200m) at the same track on the first Tuesday in November.

Whilst Jason Collett partnered Changingoftheguard in his $2m Sydney Cup (3200m) triumph at Randwick on April 11, Lees isn’t expecting him to venture south to continue his association with the gelding.

“I will get a Melbourne jockey for the Andrew Ramsden,” he said.

“All going well Changingoftheguard will then go north for the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2400m) and Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm on May 30 and June 13 respectively.”

Stablemate Brave Call, whom Lees withdrew from yesterday’s Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting as he thought the track would be too firm, also will contest the same trial in the morning.

Tavi Time, who made good ground from last early to finish eighth in yesterday’s Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m), will attempt to clinch back-to-back wins in Friday week’s $200,000 Big Dance eligibility Scone Cup (1600m).

“I was happy with his run,” Lees said.

“He drew awkwardly, got back in the field and worked home nicely.”

Whilst Lees missed out in yesterday’s Hawkesbury Cup, he is hoping for better fortune at this weekend’s Gosford’s stand-alone fixture.

Last year’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner You Wahng will contest the $300,000 Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m), which also carries Big Dance eligibility.

“You Wahng was terrific last time when runner-up (to Asterix) in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick on April 18,” Lees said.

“That was only her second run back and, all going well, she will head north afterwards for the Brisbane winter carnival.”

Lees has given his $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner Lord Of Biscay a freshen up.

After his PMC Final victory at Randwick on April 11, he started favorite and finished third to Formal Display in the Tamworth Cup (1400m) on April 24.

“He had his chance at Tamworth, and I have given him a short break,” Lees said.

“I still might take him to Brisbane for the carnival provided the rain stops and the tracks dry out.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MAY 3, 2025 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS