HORROR barrier draws have greeted Kris Lees’ three runners in two of the Royal Randwick features on Saturday.
Loch Eagle drew 18 in the $1.5m Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) in a capacity field of 20 plus one reserve, and the news was no better in the $750,000 Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m), which drew another capacity line-up.
Kalapour came up with the extreme outside (22) in a field of 18 plus four reserves, and Cleveland drew 19.
Jay Ford rides Loch Eagle, Nash Rawiller partners Kalapour, and Dylan Gibbons has the mount on Cleveland.
“Shocking,” was leading Newcastle trainer Lees’ succinct comment on Tuesday evening to the barrier draws.
“There’s nothing we can do about it, so we just have to go there and do our best.
“All three horses are in good order.”
The wide draws certainly didn’t improve the trio’s chanceswhen market assessors released prices for both races.
Loch Eagle, who won the $2m The Ingham over the Epsom course at Randwick last December, is a $101 roughie, whilst Kalapour ($34) and Cleveland ($71) also are outsiders for The Metropolitan.
“Kalapour’s two runs back have been terrific, and it’s a shame he has drawn so poorly,” Lees said.
“I’ve taken the gear off Cleveland and tried a few different things with him since he ran last in the Premier’s Cup (2000m Group 3) at Randwick on August 24 after two below par runs at the Brisbane winter carnival,” Lees said.
“He is going well at home, but has to take that to the races on Saturday.”
Lees also accepted with Miss Busslinger (Dylan Gibbons) for the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) on Saturday and, with only nine runners, at least she hasn’t fared anywhere near as poorly as her stablemates.
She drew five in a field of nine and is also at huge odds ($101), with unbeaten filly Autumn Glow all the rage at $1.60.
Lees has decided not to continue a spring campaign with Changingoftheguard, who ran second in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
“He’ll have a good break, and we’ll focus on the autumn with him,” he said.
Lees didn’t have a winner at his home track meeting on Tuesday, but scored with debutante Khamis at the corresponding Grafton fixture.
The three-year-old daughter of Pariah steamrolled her rivals in the Maiden Plate (1400m), scoring by nearly six lengths with apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald on board.
Story John Curtis, October 2, 2024
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