LEES BAGS SIX IN BIG HOLIDAY WEEKEND RESULT

AN overdue stakes breakthrough for Kind Words at Gosford today capped a huge Christmas holiday weekend for leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees.

Kind Words’ victory in the $300,000 Group 3 Belle of the Turf Stakes (1600m), surviving a protest in the stewards’ room, was Lees’ sixth winner over the last three days, which included an earlier Group 3 success with Tavi Time in the Summer Cup and doubles at Royal Randwick last Friday and Eagle Farm yesterday.

Tavi Time made it back to back wins in the Summer Cup (2000m) last Friday after stablemate Power Of The Brave had scored earlier in the day.

Lees doubled up again at Eagle Farm yesterday with Zaphod and Saxobushi; two of jockey Jason  Collett’s quarter of winners, and $41 roughie Nomomeikushi broke through at the Coffs Harbour TAB meeting.

Import Zaphod ($5.50) clinched his fourth Australian victory (and second at Eagle Farm) when he took the Class 6 Handicap (1825m), and rapid improver Saxobushi ($5.50) made it three wins from his last four starts, in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m).

After son Dylan had partnered Tavi Time to another Summer Cup triumph, Andrew Gibbons posted his 479^th winner for Lees when he led throughout on lightly-raced Tosen Stardom filly Nomomeikushi in a Maiden Plate (1200m) at Coffs Harbour on a heavy track.

Kind Words ($6.50) put the icing on the weekend cake when she turned in a tough performance to narrowly defeat hat-trick seeker and $3.60 favorite Hyperbolic in the Belle of the Turf.

The mare was runner-up in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle two years ago, and was twice placed at Listed level.

Jockey Tom Sherry made light of Kind Words’ wide barrier at Gosford to put her into a good position, and got moving on her approaching the home turn.

She and Hyperbolic had the race to themselves over the closing stages, with Kind Words edging out the other mare.

“Kind Words deserved that,” stable spokesman Cameren Swan said afterwards.

“She was very unlucky in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) last year as a three-year-old when she drew off the track, was forced to race wide and finished fourth.

“Kind Words won her previous start at Rosehill Gardens over 2000m, and just lacked that turn of foot coming back to the ‘mile’ today.

“But she was tough. They had their chance to beat her.”

Sherry said Kind Words had given him a “good feel” going to the barrier, and raced accordingly.

Lees’ six winners took his season’s tally to 45, and his weekend haul was nearly seven when $101 bolter Little Beginnings looked home in the closer at Randwick yesterday, only to be overhauled in the closing stages by Interjection ($6.50).

Stewards considered a protest by Hyperbolic’s rider Tyler Schiller, alleging interference approaching the 100m.

Whilst they found Kind Words shifted out abruptly at that point and made contact with the runner-up, they felt that the minor nature of the interference was insufficient to amend the placings.

Fellow provincial trainers Jake Hull (Gosford) and Nathan Doyle (Newcastle) also were successful at the feature Gosford meeting.

Hull’s talented sprinter Valilee bounced back to winning form in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m).

Apprentice Anna Roper got Valilee ($2.25 favorite) smartly away from his wide barrier, and led throughout to comfortably defeat Apollo Ridge ($13) and Inazuma Boy ($9), posting his third victory from only four starts.

Doyle’s Hellbent filly Mercy Me (Ash Morgan) finished off nicely to take the F&M Maiden Plate (1100m) at only her third start.

A $3.70 third favorite, Mercy Me followed up her first-up second to Lees’ debutante Too Darn Finesse in a Scone Maiden Plate (1000m) on December 11 by defeating the other fancied pair Lady Of The Castle ($3.20 favorite) and leader Lady Tassort ($3.30).

STORY JOHN CURTIS, DECEMBER 28, 2025 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS