LEES’ INGHAM CHANCES TOTALLY WEATHER DEPENDENT

KRIS Lees says his chances of adding another The Ingham to his record at Royal

Randwick tomorrow are weather dependent.

The leading Newcastle trainer, who has won the Group 2 1600m summer feature twice (with Sense Of Occasion in 2016 and Loch Eagle in 2023), will be represented by three runners in this year’s renewal of the $2m feature.

They are Loch Eagle (Jay Ford), Tavi Time (Dylan Gibbons) and You Wahng (Tyler Schiller).

“Everything is going to depend on the track condition (Randwick was rated at Good 4 at 7.30am, but with rain forecast),” Lees said this morning.

“If the track is okay, Tavi Time looks to be my best chance."

“He didn’t relish the heavy ground and still ran well when seventh in The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange three weeks ago. If we get similar conditions to when The Gong was run, Loch Eagle comes right into calculations to win the race again. He ran fifth in The Gong, and has won on both soft and heavy ground."

“You Wahng (this year’s Queensland Oaks winner) was excellent first-up in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens a fortnight ago. She has drawn awkwardly and will get back and be strong late. You Wahng also is adept on soft and heavy ground.”

Lees also runs Age Of Sail (Listed Christmas Cup, 2400m) and Brudenell (Listed Razor Sharp, 1200m).

Alysha Collett rides Age Of Sail, and Tim Clark partners Brudenell.

“Age Of Sail was good when fourth in The Beauford (2300m) at The Hunter meeting at home last month, and has trained on well,” Lees said.

“I’m expecting him to run well again, and the same with Brudenell. Whilst he has drawn awkwardly, he has the pace to get up on the speed and always gives his best.” Lees also accepted with Zaphod for the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1800m), but instead he will resume at Canterbury tonight in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1550m), with stable apprentice Ben Osmond’s 2kg claim somewhat offsetting his 63kg impost.

“Zaphod (who will race in a tongue tie) has an excellent first-up record (two wins and two seconds from four starts), and is in good order for his resumption,” Lees said.

“I’m also giving Oakfield Hawk (Tommy Berry) his first start back in just over a year in the same race. He did a good job last time in work, but a tendon problem kept him off the scene for so long.”

Lees also runs Oakfield Wallaby (Berry) in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1900m), and expects her to be hard to beat.

“She got flattened just after the start in a similar race at Canterbury last time and did well to finish fourth,” he said.

“She is racing well and gets her chance to break back into the winning list.”

Lees’ other Canterbury representative is Power Of The Brave, with another stable apprentice Will Stanley claiming 3kg to lessen his 62kg topweight in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m).

“Power Of The Brave is a Canterbury type horse, and is never far away,” Lees said.

Meanwhile, Lees has sent Tasoraay to Queensland for the $300,000 The Gateway (1400m) at Eagle Farm tomorrow, hoping for a repeat of what he achieved with Dream Hour two years ago.

The Gateway winner gets a “free ticket” into next June’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap over the same course.

Lees accepted with the last start Canterbury winner in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick tomorrow, but he drew poorly.

“Tasoraay did a good job to win at Canterbury, and showed plenty of fight,” Lees said.

“Obviously this race is harder, being at weight-for-age, but if he can lead and get control, he is capable of running boldly.”

Story by John Curtis, 12 December, 2025