INFANCY “SUPER” FOR TIBBIE STAKES TILT

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KRIS Lees is relying on topweight Infancy to give him a third Tibbie Stakes at tomorrow’s Newcastle spring carnival opener.

Dylan Gibbons will ride the six-year-old mare Infancy, who somewhat surprisingly has raced only once at her home track when eighth in last November’s $1m The Hunter (1300m) after coming back from a Melbourne spring carnival assignment at Flemington.

Coincidentally she drew 15 in a field of 16 that day, and has 12 in a field of 14 for the $250,000 Tibbie (1400m).

“Infancy’s wide draw isn’t necessarily the worst thing as she gets back in her races,” stable representative Danny Greer said today.

“It’s her DNA to do that and then finish off.

“Infancy is going great. Her last run when fourth to Midnight In Tokyo in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 22 was super.

“She is back against her own sex tomorrow, and if there is plenty of speed on she has the capacity to finish over them.”

Leading Newcastle trainer Lees, who won the Tibbie with Fine Bubbles (James McDonald) in 2014 and Princess Posh (Glyn Schofield) four years later, has representatives in all three Group 3s.

Aside from his dual Tibbie victories, he won the 2020 Newcastle Gold Cup with Mugatoo (Kerrin McEvoy) and the then 1300m Cameron Handicap in 2009 with Absolutelyfabulous (Robert Thompson).

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Lees runs Sydney Cup winner Changingoftheguard (Tim Clark) and Auckland Cup placegetter Age Of Sail (Tom Sherry) in the $300,000 Gold Cup (2300m), and dual Randwick Summer Cup winner Tavi Time (Jason Collett) in the $250,000 Cameron Handicap (1500m).

“The favorite Aethelwulf is obviously the horse to beat in the Cup, but Changingoftheguard has taken improvement from his first-up run in the Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick on August 22,” Greer said.

“He was a bit fresh that day, and the extra distance tomorrow suits him better.

“We’ll be positive on him, and Kris has the option afterwards of one more Sydney run or going to Melbourne (Changingoftheguard finished in the ‘top 10’ in last year’s 3200m Melbourne Cup).

“Forget Age Of Sail’s failure in the Wyong Cup (2100m) last start.

“His exposure to Wyong hasn’t been successful. He was travelling well enough but didn’t handle the tight turns when they quickened.

“He is much better suited on the roomier track at home.”

Like Infancy, a resuming Tavi Time also hasn’t fared well, having to jump from the extreme outside if all 14 acceptors take their places in the Cameron.

“Kris has tinkered with Tavi Time’s gear and put a tongue tie on him,” Greer said. “He has worn it in his trackwork and two trials, and has reacted well to it.

“Tavi Time ran fourth to subsequent Group 1 winner Headley Grange in last year’s Cameron when also resuming, and his work has been good and he trialled really well when second to Rivellino at Gosford on August 31.

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“If he can get some cover from the draw, he can finish off well and definitely isn’t a $34 chance as his current price suggests.”

Lees’ other representative tomorrow is debutante Queen Of Thinking (Gibbons) in the F&M Maiden Handicap (1400m).

“She is ready to go to the races, and also will race in a tongue tie,” Greer said.

“It will be a good experience for her tomorrow, and no doubt take benefit from the race.”

James McDonald stays with Hawker Hall for the Nick Moraitis Trophy Benchmark 88 Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.

“Jams no doubt had other offers in the race, so it’s a positive sign that he wanted to ride him again,” Greer said.

“Hawker Hall’s good barrier is the key. He runs his best races when he can get on to the fence and relax.

He comes back slightly in grade, and in distance and the 1100m suits.”

Lees also accepted with the promising Night Agent (McDonald) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m), but as an emergency he needs another scratching to make the field.

Even so, he will also be nominated for a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m) at Warwick Farm next Wednesday.

“Night Agent hasn’t drawn well again on Saturday, and Kris will make a decision whether to go to Randwick if he gets a start or wait for next week,” Greer said.

Night Agent, a four-year-old son of Brutal, has won three of his seven starts and caught the eye on resumption when he also drew poorly and ran home stylishly to finish fourth to Decorum in similar grade over 1200m at Randwick on September 5.

Meanwhile, talented three-year-old Under Focus has done well since his third in last Saturday’s Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens, and is spot on for Saturday week’s $1m Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at that track.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS