IMPORT CARRIES LEES’ CAULFIELD CUP HOPES

IMPORT Adelaide River will carry Kris Lees’ hopes in Saturday’s $5m Caulfield Cup.

The leading Newcastle trainer decided to rely on the six-year-old gelding as his sole runner after ruling fellow import Changingoftheguard out.

Melbourne jockey Jordan Childs will ride Adelaide River, who drew barrier nine in a capacity field of 18.

Lees took a tongue tie off the gelding before he ran an excellent second – pipped at the post – to Cup rival Birdman in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on September 20.

Then at his first Melbourne start in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4, he raced up on the speed and wasn’t far away when seventh to ruling Melbourne Cup favorite Sir Delius.

He carried 55kg under the set weights plus penalties conditions of the Turnbull, and drops 1kg on Saturday.

Adelaide River currently is a $23 chance for the Cup, with Half Yours (fourth in the Turnbull and dropping 2.5kg, even allowing for a 1.5k penalty for his easy victory in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes, 2000m at Caulfield on September 20) all the rage at $2.80 after drawing barrier two.

Lees did not accept with City Tatts Club Cup winner Changingoftheguard for either the Caulfield Cup or the $500,000 Group 3 ATC St Leger Stakes (2600m) at Randwick on Saturday, as he heads toward the $10m Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.

“He will run next week, either in the $500,000 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Wednesday or $750,000 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2600m) at the Friday night meeting,” Lees said.

Lees won the Moonee Valley Gold Cup with Cleveland two years ago, but the gelding unfortunately was a race eve withdrawal from the Melbourne Cup because of an elevated temperature.

Meanwhile, Lees has brought Rivellino home after the three-year-old ran eighth at $19 to Autumn Boy in last Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

“Rivellino was okay, but he’s just not there yet,” Lees said.

“I might run him in the Callander-Presnell at Randwick on Saturday week.”

The Group 2 feature for three-year-olds carries a $1m purse, and will be run at set weights.

Story John Curtis, October 15, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos