LEES’ $10M CUP MISSION WITH FORMER IRISH STAYER

KRIS Lees is on an historic Melbourne Cup mission with Changingoftheguard.

The former Irish stayer has returned to his Newcastle base after what nearly proved to be a “hit and run” trip to Melbourne.

Changingoftheguard, with 60kg, was narrowly beaten by favorite Bold Soul (with 5.5kg less) in a 2530m Quality at Flemington last Saturday.

“I was very happy with how he ran, especially considering he hadn’t raced since mid-June,” Lees said this afternoon.

“He has travelled home safely, and we now have a couple of options for his next race.

“It will be either the Listed City Tattersall’s Club Cup (2400m) at Royal Randwick on September 6 – also run under Quality conditions – or return to Melbourne for The Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington a week later.

The Archer was formerly the Hotham Handicap run on the first day of the Melbourne Cup carnival in early November, but was moved to a mid-September date and renamed, carrying an important clause.

The winner secures a “free ticket” into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) – worth $10m for the first time – at Flemington on November 5.

Not only is Australia’s famous race bearing its richest ever purse, but every one of the maximum 24 runners will earn prizemoney.

Until now, the first 12 horses home earned from $4.4m to the winner to $160,000.

From this year the 13^th to 24^th placegetters will each earn $100,000 for their connections.

Whilst the lure of a Melbourne Cup berth is obviously tempting, Lees doesn’t feel his stayer necessarily needs to win The Archer.

“I feel he will make the Melbourne Cup field anyway,” he said.

“That is our goal and whilst we don’t know if Changingoftheguard (a 2406m Group 2 winner at Ascot’s famous Royal carnival three years ago) is classy enough, I have no doubts he will run the 3200m right out.

“He’ll get in with a nice weight and definitely get his chance.”

Changingoftheguard’s Flemington placing was his first start since finishing unplaced in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on June 14; his first start since being runner-up there in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) on September 28 last year.

The gelding’s Flemington second was only his fifth start since coming to Australia and joining the leading Newcastle trainer’s team.

Changingoftheguard, along with Adelaide River, Cleveland and Dalmanndi were among 143 horses when nominations closed today for the $5m Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18.

Adelaide River, Cleveland and three-year-old Rivellino have been entered for the Cox Plate (2040m)  worth a record $6m, at The Valley on October 25.

Melbourne Cup entries do not close until early September.

Meanwhile, Lees intends accepting with both Adelaide River (60.5kg) and Age Of Sail (54kg) for Saturday’s Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) at Randwick.

James McDonald has been booked for Adelaide River, who returns as a gelding, but with more rain forecast for Sydney later in the week, Lees says neither will run first-up if the track becomes a bog.

Adelaide River has impressed winning both his 1200m trials at Wyong (June 16) and Gosford (July 23) in preparation for a resumption.

Stablemate Brudenell, another impressive Gosford trial winner winner on July 23, will contest the Group 2 wfa Missile Stakes (1200m).

Rivellino and Cleveland, who were both due to trial at the Gosford session on Thursday (postponed from today), will be held over to instead trial next week.

. Kembla Grange trainers Paul Murray and Mitchell Beer both were successful at today’s Moruya meeting.

Murray took the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1210m) with Gooloo Bucky ($5.50), and Beer won the Maiden Plate (1020m) with $2.40 favorite Eagerly Awaits.

Story John Curtis, August 6, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos