LEES CHASING A THIRD GOSFORD GOLD CUP

KRIS Lees hunts a third Gosford Gold Cup tomorrow – but the first at the now annual Saturday metropolitan stand-alone meeting.

And Newcastle’s leading trainer is pinning his main hopes on Group 1 winner You Wahng measuring up, and clinching a trip north for winter targets.

Lees, who won the Cup in 2015 with Oriental Lady (Brenton Avdulla) and then three years later with Singing (Glyn Schofield) - both were raced by Australian Bloodstock syndicates - before the race became an integral part of the Saturday meeting in 2021, has three acceptors in tomorrow’s $300,000 Listed feature to be run over 2100m.

“You Wahng and Zaphod definitely will run, and I may keep Kind Words for another race next week when hopefully we might strike a suitable soft track,” he said this morning.

“You Wahng is the pick, but you can never rule out Zaphod.

“You Wahng ran really well when runner-up to Asterix in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 18.

“That was only her second run back after a freshen up, and she has trained on nicely since.

“Zaphod had 59.5kg last time when seventh at Randwick, and drops 6.5kg.

“He is capable enough to run well with the light weight.”

Lees has booked last Saturday’s Hawkesbury Gold Cup winning jockey Regan Bayliss for You Wahng, and Andrew Gibbons for Zaphod.

“Provided You Wahng races up to expectations tomorrow, she will head to our Gold Coast stable for the Brisbane winter carnival,” he said.

“There are staying races there every week, and she has shown in the past she races well in Queensland.”

You Wahng won the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm last year, and was runner-up in the $1m Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) at the Gold Coast in January.

Damien (Dylan Gibbons) resumes in the Benchmark 78 Handicap tomorrow on the back of two pleasing trials.

“He is in good order, but will take improvement from tomorrow’s race,” Lees said.

Damien’s stablemate Satono Invader has been withdrawn from the 3&4YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at Gosford, and has been sent north to run at the Gold Coast metropolitan meeting tomorrow.

She joins Erin Jo in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m), with the pair on trial for Queensland Oaks berths at Eagle Farm on June 6.

Ryan Maloney rides Satono Invader, and Tom Sherry has the Erin Jo mount.

“Satono Invader failed in the ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick last month after a good third in the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) there a week earlier,” Lees said.

“Perhaps the back-up didn’t work, but she has freshened up nicely and is in good order and has drawn beautifully.

“Erin Jo is poorly drawn but drops 4.5kg on her latest close fifth with 61kg at Canterbury over 1550m.

“Getting to 1800m looks as though it will suit. Both her and Satono Invader can run well.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MAY 8, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS