KRIS Lees knows how to win a Coffs Harbour Cup with a fresh horse, and is hoping to do it again on Friday.
The leading Newcastle trainer has announced this year’s Canberra Cup winner Almania as his representative in the $150,000 Cup (1600m), which carries eligibility for the $3m The Big Dance over the same distance at Royal Randwick in November.
Lees has won two of the last three runnings of the Coffs Cup; firstly with Itz Lily (Alysha Collett) in 2021 and then with Hosier (Hugh Bowman) in 2022.
The now retired mare Itz Lily had won the Muswellbrook Cup (1500m) earlier in the same year, and was a $7 chance at Coffs Harbour, whilst Irish import Hosier (now with fellow Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini) was having his first start for his new trainer after being switched from Victoria, when as a well-backed $2.15 favorite he defeated The Ritz and Wairere Falls.
Almania will turn nine years of age on Thursday and hasn’t raced since April, but Lees is happy with how he is shaping for another preparation.
“The Coffs Cup looks an ideal race to begin another campaign with Almania,” Lees said on Sunday.
“He is trialling well, and Dylan Gibbons will ride him.”
Gibbons, who is back home after an overseas break, is ready to begin another chapter of his blossoming career as a senior jockey.
He tallied 389 winners, including 74 in the current season which ends on Wednesday, as an apprentice and is no stranger to Almania.
He won the Listed Canberra Cup (2000m) on March 10 on the gelding, and also rode him when third to Post Impressionist 13 days later in the Group 3 Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
In spite of his advancing years, Almania has raced only 23 times and won twice for Lees from a dozen starts, and Gibbons has been his rider on both occasions.
He was also aboard when the gelding ran second to Much Much Better in a 1000m trial on the Beaumont track on June 28, and was away when Darryl McLellan easily won an 1150m trial at Scone on him on July 17.
Wyong trainer Sara Ryan won both last year’s Coffs Cup and The Big Dance with Attractable.
Dylan Gibbons’ father Andrew was the successful Coffs rider, and Regan Bayliss rode the gelding at Randwick.
The Coffs Cup headlines an eight-race Showcase meeting with overall prizemoney of $450,000.
Major supporting races are the $50,000 Daniel Baker Sprint (1200m), $50,000 Ken Howard Cup (2000m), $50,000 Country Magic Merv Mercer Mile (a Class 2 Handicap, 1600m), and $50,000 Super Maiden Handicap (1000m).
The Super Maiden is also the first race of the inaugural $5m Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden Series.
Should the winner be an Inglis graduate from 2023 and beyond – and be paid up for the Inglis Race Series – a further $100,000 bonus will be paid to connections.
. Entries for all races at Coffs Harbour close at 11am on Monday, July 29 and acceptances are due by 9am on Wednesday, July 31.
Story John Curtis, July 28, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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