JENNI’S JOCKEY “ON GUARD” FOR CUP WINNER AT FLEMINGTON

PRIDE Of Jenni’s jockey Declan Bates will be a new rider for Changingoftheguard at Flemington on Saturday.

Trainer Kris Lees has confirmed Bates’ booking for the Sydney Cup winner in the $300,000 Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m).

The Ramsden will be run at set weights, and the winner automatically gets a “free ticket” into the $10m Melbourne Cup (3200m) at the same track on November 3.

Changingoftheguard, who finished in the “top 10” in last year’s Melbourne Cup, will be floated south midweek.

Whilst it’s not the seven-year-old gelding’s Melbourne debut – he ran second in a 2530m Quality at Flemington last August before leading throughout in the Listed City Tatts Cup (2400m) at Royal Randwick the following month – Lees is hoping for fine weather in the south this week.

Changingoftheguard showed his liking for a good surface when he led most of the way under Jason Collett to land the $2m Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 11.

Whilst Bates has formed a great association with Pride Of Jenni – winning eight races including yesterday’s Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast – Lees said it wasn’t necessarily his brilliant front-running rides on the remarkable mare which influenced his booking for the Andrew Ramsden.

“Obviously his tactical nous on a front-runner is an asset, but we had to get in early to book a good jockey with other feature meetings (Doomben 10,000 and the Scone metropolitan stand-alone) also on Saturday,” Lees said today.

“Changingoftheguard had a good hitout at home last Monday when a close third in a 1200m trial on the Beaumont track.

“He is in good order, and ready to go Melbourne for his next race.”

All going well, Changingoftheguard will then head north for the Brisbane winter carnival with another “two-miler”, the Group 2 Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm on June 13, on the agenda.

Stablemate Tavi Time also will have a new rider when he attempts to make it back to back Scone Cups (1600m) on Friday.

Chad Schofield will ride the gelding in the $200,000 Big Dance eligibility Listed Cup.

Tavi Time made good ground from near last when eighth (beaten only two lengths) to Churchill’s Choice in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) yesterday week.

Lees, who almost won yesterday’s Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) with runner-up Zaphod, was a keen TV spectator there when his two fillies Satono Invader and Erin Jo ran in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m).

Satono Invader pulled up lame in the near foreleg, and a veterinary clearance will be required before she races again, but almost certainly will be rested.

Erin Jo drew the outside barrier, got back and raced in restricted room for some distance near the 1200m, and had difficulty obtaining clear running over the last 100m.

“Most likely we will continue on to the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday week with Erin Jo as a trial for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m),” Lees said.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MAY 10, 2026