LEES EYEING MAIDEN NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVE

KRIS Lees will break new ground with his first New Zealand runner early next month.

The leading Newcastle trainer today announced Age Of Sail as his maiden representative “across the ditch” in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on March 7.

Age Of Sail races in the same colours as his now deceased former outstanding mare Luca Valentina, who was raced by well-known New Zealander Lib Petagna.

Age Of Sail is an acceptor for two races at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow; the Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) and Group 3 Parramatta Cup (1900m).

Jason Collett is booked for the gelding in the former, and Jay Ford for the latter race.

“Age Of Sail will go to the Parramatta Cup if he gets a start, but is fourth emergency,” Lees said this morning.

“Otherwise, he will line up in the Benchmark 100. He needs to race tomorrow before being flown to New Zealand on Sunday week.

“Brisbane’s Ben Thompson has been booked for the Auckland Cup.”

In the latest TAB.com.au Cup market, Lees’ stayer is at $15.

The Auckland Cup, run under handicap conditions, is New Zealand’s main staying feature and carried Group 1 status until downgraded to a Group 2 in 2022.

Age Of Sail was beaten a whisker in the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm on January 26, and had a tickover trial when third over 1000m at the Beaumont track a week ago.

The Frankel seven-year-old was unplaced from a wide barrier in last year’s Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick, but was placed on three occasions at the distance in hurdle races in the UK before coming to Australia.

If Age Sail, as seems likely, comes out of the Parramatta Cup, Lees will be represented by another import Changingoftheguard (Collett).

He hasn’t raced since the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4 when a gutsy ninth to Half Yours after jumping from the outside barrier (24).

“Changingoftheguard is coming up nicely, but has drawn poorly tomorrow and will take benefit from this run,” Lees said.

“He is on the Sydney Cup path (at Randwick on April 11).

Lees considers his smart three-year-old Rivellino (Collett) is “over the odds” in tomorrow’s Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.

“He has come on nicely since making good ground at the end of the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick a fortnight ago,” he said.

“I expect him to run well again, and this will top him off for the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) in a fortnight.”

Gosford Belle Of The Turf Stakes winner Kind Words (Tyler Schiller) goes back to the races in the 1400m Benchmark Handicap.

“It was good to see her string two wins together in December, and she can sprint well fresh tomorrow,” Lees said.

“Then we’ll look at some of the feature fillies and mares’ races during the autumn carnival.”

Impressive Gold Coast Magic Millions winner Hawker Hall (James McDonald) contests the Benchmark 94 Handicap (1100m) tomorrow.

“He has drawn poorly, but will be in play if he can get across without any bother,” Lees said.

“If he wins or runs very well, he can have a crack at a nice sprint race during the carnival.

“Otherwise, there is still the 1200m Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier at Gosford on March 14.”

Lees has withdrawn both Wan Lost and Etoile Filante from tonight’s Canterbury meeting, but will have True To Form (Schiller) and Calga Power (Dylen Gibbons) in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m), reduced to a field of seven.

“True To Form (cross-over nose band off) is resuming and will need this run, whilst Calga Power is racing consistently and is one of the better chances,” Lees said.

, At Doomben tomorrow, Enterprise Private (Daniel Moor), in career-best form, is chasing four wins on the bounce in the Benchmark 80 Handicap (2200m).

“Whilst he hasn’t raced since scoring at the Sunshine Coast a month ago (runner-up Prince Levi subsequently ran a record in scoring at Doomben), he is in great order and ready to run well again,” Lees said.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, FEBRUARY 20, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS