KRIS Lees is “steeling” himself for another The Ingham triumph at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The leading Newcastle trainer, as well as chasing the $2m Group 2 feature for a third occasion, is giving jockey Josh Parr the chance to win the race for the first time.
Lees has booked Parr for “mile” specialist Rustic Steel in The Ingham, the first leg of the annual Randwick summer double.
Lees won The Ingham (then the Villiers Stakes) with Sense Of Occasion (Ben Melham) in 2016, and again last year with Loch Eagle (Dylan Gibbons).
Parr, at his first ride on the seven-year-old, won the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury on November 7.
Brother-in-law Tim Clark had the mount nine days later when the gelding came back in distance and was a late closing fifth to favorite Briasa in the $1m Group 2 The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.
“Rustic Steel is going to appreciate getting back up to the 1600m at Randwick, where he won the inaugural Big Dance two years ago,” Lees said.
“Whilst he hasn’t raced since The Hunter, he had a nice tick-over trial on the Beaumont track last Wednesday and is in great shape.”
Ridden by “Digger” McLellan, Rustic Steel coasted home ahead of three rivals in a 1200m Open trial.
Apart from the Big Dance, the gelding also won The Coast at Gosford and Scone Cup (both 1600m) in the same year.
The winner of 10 of his 30 starts, Rustic Steel has earned just over $2.1m in a fantastic career.
Lees also intends nominating stablemate Tavi Time for The Ingham, but isn’t certain he will gain a start in what is expected to be another capacity line-up.
The “old firm” was back in winning form at Newcastle on Saturday, with Lees and Andrew Gibbons combining to land the first two races with a pair of debutantes.
Anders filly Wisnierska took the 2YO Maiden Handicap (900m) at $12, and The Autumn Sun three-year-old filly Road To Paradise ($3.80) made an impressive debut in the Maiden Plate (1500m).
Gibbons, who for many years was Lees’ main provincial and country jockey, has ridden more than 1400 winners – and 464 of them have been for the Newcastle mentor.
Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker won his 12th race for the season – and landed the quinella to boot – at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Parker’s two mares Justela ($6.50) and Mah Ali ($7.50) fought out the finish of the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m).
Parker revealed he gave some thought to withdrawing Justela when he arrived at the track as rain continued to fall.
RacingNSW stewards later reported the six-year-old mare, who won her second Saturday metropolitan race after scoring at her home track The Gong meeting on November 23, sustained a superficial abrasion to her off hind heel bulb, and also lost her off hind plate in running.
Unfortunately, Parker couldn’t add to Justela’s victory with favorite Close Encounter ($2.45) at Hawkesbury on Sunday.
Resuming from a spell, the four-year-old finished last of six runners in the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m).
Close Encounter’s rider Lee Magorrian told stewards his mount never travelled comfortably in the early and middle stages and, when placed under pressure at the 400m, failed to respond to his urging.
Though Close Encounter didn’t fire, Wyong trainer Rodney Bailey came out on top, winning the race with Dreams Of Thunder ($8.50), ridden by Jenny Duggan.
. Newcastle trainer Sam Kavanagh broke through at Armidale on Sunday with Sharpen The Knives ($2.60 favorite) in the Super Maiden Showcase Plate (1100m) at the Cup meeting.
Sharpen The Knives (Nick Heywood) was having her 14th start and had been placed on nine occasions.
Story John Curtis, December 8, 2024
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