LEES’ TRIO AT RANDWICK TO QUALIFY TWO FOR BIG DANCE

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KRIS Lees will make a belated Big Dance bid at Royal Randwick on Saturday to have representation in the forthcoming $3m feature.

The leading Newcastle trainer decided to bypass today’s Big Dance Eligibility Taree Cup (1600m) with Pier Pressure, including her in his three-strong team for the Wild Card (1600m).

As a result, he will have a third of the field of nine runners, with the first two placegetters automatically securing berths in the Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 3.

Lees, who won the inaugural Big Dance in 2022 with Rustic Steel, is not yet certain of a runner this year, with Gosford Gold Cup runner-up Zaphod his only potential possibility at present.

Along with Pier Pressure (Andrew Gibbons), he saddles Tavi Time (Jason Collett), and You Wahng (Tommy Berry).

“Kris decided to run Pier Pressure at Randwick because she has much less weight, and may not find as much pressure as most likely she would have at Taree,” stable spokesman Danny Greer said today.

“Her last two runs have been really good with more weight than the 52kg she will carry tomorrow.

“Tavi Time was good when first-up in the Cameron Handicap (1500m) at home last month, and trialled really well over 1030m at Rosehill Gardens earlier in the month.

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“He is the best horse in the race, has contested the last two runnings of the Big Dance (fourth in 2024 and eighth last year), and will be really well suited if the track gets an upgrade to soft.

“You Wahng cannot be discounted.

“She got well out of her ground first-up over 1600m at Randwick, but her last 200m was good.

“Tommy Berry knows her well, having won the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) on her last year, and she has won on both soft and heavy ground.”

Along with Lees’ three in the Wild Card, he will run both Rivellino (Ben Melham) and Night Agent (James McDonald) in the $1m Listed Silver Eagle (1300m).

“Both have drawn awkwardly, but at least they have made the field,” Greer said.

“Kris has been holding Rivellino back because of poor draws, but he has to get him going again tomorrow.

“He underwent throat surgery earlier in the year and trialled nicely at Scone on October 7.

“Night Agent is very promising (four wins from eight starts), and obviously this is his toughest test.

“He hasn’t raced since winning in a fast run Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on September 19, beating subsequent winner Unleeshing.

“Kris gave him a tick-over 900 m trial the same day as Rivellino, and he sat off them and won without being pressured.”

. Lees is chasing the Jungle Juice Cup (1350m) at Newcastle tomorrow with Oakfield Duke (Grant Buckley).

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“This race has been in the back of our mind for quite a while, and the wetter the better for Oakfield Duke,” Greer said.

“His nine wins have all been on soft and heavy tracks.

“Forget his last run at Port Macquarie on Cup day when he drew awkwardly on a good track, and never got into the race.”

Lees has three runners at Doomben tomorrow; Pearl Pendant (3YO Handicap, 1600m), Barazin (Benchmark 80 Handicap, 2200m), and Cutepi (Benchmark 70 Handicap, 1350m).

Daniel Moor will ride the trio.

“Pearl Pendant is going for three in a row after scoring at Coffs Harbour and Taree, and deserves her chance in town,” Greer said.

“Barazin is always a chance in these types of races, though he is yet to win at Doomben from five starts.

“Cutepi is in great form, winning easily at the Sunshine Coast and then finishing second at Doomben in a Benchmark 78 Handicap over tomorrow’s distance.

“She comes down in class but goes up 4.5kg, and has an inside draw which is essential in the big field.”

Trainers Jason Deamer (Newcastle) and Adam Duggan (Gosford) were successful at today’s Taree Cup meeting.

Deamer won the Super Maiden Plate (1400m) with $2.15 favorite Rupertano, ridden by apprentice Shannen Llewellyn, and Duggan also was popular with punters as his $2.05 favorite Purple Haze (Ash Morgan) took the Class 1/Maiden Plate (1600m).

At the corresponding Bathurst fixture, Hawkesbury’s Jason Attard was the sole provincial winner.

Attard’s mare Prefer Diamonds ($4.20), ridden by Winona Costin, broke through for an overdue victory in the Benchmark 66 Handicap (2000m).STORY JOHN CURTIS, OCTOBER 16, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS