LEES CHASING A THIRD COFFS HARBOUR CUP

KRIS Lees is banking on suitable conditions enabling Loch Eagle to turn his form around and provide him with another Coffs Harbour Cup today. .  

Aaron Bullock will ride topweight Loch Eagle in the $150,000 Cup (1600m), which carries eligibility for the $3m Big Dance over the same distance at Royal Randwick on November 3.

The leading Newcastle trainer, who won the Coffs Harbourfeature with Itz Lily in 2021 and again the following year with Hosier, hasn’t lost faith in Loch Eagle even though the now eight-year-old hasn’t fired in two Sydney runs this campaign.

“His work is still as good as ever, but he has to reproduce that today,” Lees said today.

“Getting to a soft track at Coffs is in his favour, and it’s not the strongest Coffs Cup by any means.

“It’s definitely winnable.”

Loch Eagle, who won the $2m Group 2 The Ingham over 1600m at Randwick in 2023, also won over that course and distance last year. 

Lees will have two runners at Randwick on Saturday; Power Of The Brave and Age Of Sail.

Stable apprentice Will Stanley rides Power Of The Brave in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1000m), and Dylan Gibbons partners this year’s NZ Wellington Cup (3200m) placegetter Age Of Sail in the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m).

“Power Of The Brave is up in class but down in weight,” Lees said.

“He drops 5.5kg on his first-up run, and I’m expecting him to run really well.

“Age Of Sail has had two trials for his resumption, and won his latest on heavy ground over 1200m at Gosford on July 22.

“Without doubt he will take improvement from Saturday’s race, which is a good starting point for a spring campaign.

“Hopefully, we can have a crack at the Wyong (2100m) and Newcastle Cups (2300m) with him next month.”

. Lees was delighted with Sydney Cup winner Changingoftheguard’s performance in a 1200m trial at home last Monday.

The eight-year-old raced wide and showed plenty of zest before finishing second to Juja Kibo.

“Very pleased with that, and he has pulled up well,” Lees said.

“I probably won’t trial him again, but will look to give him an exhibition gallop between races at Newcastle next Thursday.

“At this stage he might resume in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick on August 22.

“Only if it’s dry though. I won’t kick him off on a wet track.”

Rivellino also trialled earlier in the week, finishing third to stablemate She’s Extra in an 800m heat.

The now four-year-old, who holds a nomination for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2000m) at Flemington in October, will trial againat Gosford on Tuesday week before beginning a new campaign.