HARD TO SPLIT STABLEMATES AT ROYAL RANDWICK FOR ROUND 3

KRIS Lees says it’s difficult to separate stablemates Brave Call and Bestower at

Royal Randwick tomorrow.

It’s round three when the pair again oppose each other in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m).

It’s one-all, with Bestower (second) finishing ahead of Brave Call (fifth) in a similar grade race over 1800m at Rosehill Gardens on November 8, before they ran the quinella in another Benchmark 78 over 2000m at the Saturday metropolitan fixture at Kembla Grange on November 22 on a wet track, this time Brave Call holding off a late-finishing stablemate.

“They’re both in good form,” Lees said this morning.

“Very tough to separate them as Brave Call has the more upside of the two, but Bestower has the 2400m form, winning a Benchmark 72 Handicap over that distance at Warwick Farm on December 3. As Brave Call hasn’t raced since his Kembla Grange victory, I gave him a tick-over 1200m trial at Gosford on December 9 when he ran a nice third.”

Tommy Berry again rides Brave Call, and Tyler Schiller, who has partnered Bestower at her last three runs, sticks with the mare.

Lees decided not to send Éclair Encore north for a Class 3 Handicap (1800m) at Eagle Farm tomorrow to stay home for a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1900m) at Canterbury this evening.

He made the decision before becoming aware the favorite came out of the Brisbane race.

Lees has decided to put winkers on Éclair Encore, who has been placed at three of her last four starts since scoring first-up at Newcastle over 1300m on October 2.

“Hopefully the gear change will help her become more focused, and take up a position,” Lees said.

“She is racing well enough, and gets her chance to return to the winning list.”

Apprentice Ben Osmond’s 2kg claim lessens Éclair Encore’s weight to 58.5kg.

Calga Power (Osmond) tackles the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) at the Canterbury meeting.

He won first-up after a lengthy absence, at Gosford on November 11 before finishing second to Cross Tasman on the Kensington track over 1250m on December 8.

“If Calga Power can step cleanly, he can be very competitive again,” Lees said.

Whilst Éclair Encore bypasses Eagle Farm, Lees still has Damien (Robbie Dolan) lining up in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m).

“He is racing well, and has a good chance again from an inside gate,” Lees said.

“Damien is on target for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast next month.”

Lees runs Cutepi (Daniel Moor) in the Class 5 Handicap (1200m) at tonight’s Gold Coast meeting.

“She got quite stirred up last time when unplaced at Ipswich on December 3, but her previous three runs were good,” Lees said.

“If she is more settled, she can definitely run well.”

Lees has newcomer Oakfield Universe in both a Super 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1100m) and similar race over 1300m at Wyong tomorrow.

“She is a nice mare who is first-up and has had only three starts,” he said.

“I haven’t decided yet which race she will run in, but she will run well whatever we go with.” Story by John Curtis, 19 December, 2025. Photo by Bradley Photos.