LEES “ON GUARD” FOR SYDNEY CUP UPSET

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KRIS Lees considers blinkers and an improved surface can present Changingoftheguard with a real chance to land tomorrow’s $2m Sydney Cup at Royal Randwick.

As such he is surprised about the gelding’s current $51 quote for the 3200m Group 1 feature.

“It was always the plan to put blinkers back on him for the Cup,” the leading Newcastle trainer said this morning.

“I did that for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington last November when he ran well to finish in the ‘top 10’, and then took them off for his first three runs this preparation.”

Changingoftheguard had his final Sydney Cup lead-up at Randwick last Saturday when he made the running before finishing ninth to Newlook in the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) on a ‘Soft 7’ track.

He carried 58kg then and now has 55.5kg, and Jason Collett, who has ridden him in all three lead-ups, stays with him tomorrow.

Randwick was a ‘Soft 5’ this morning but with continued fine weather forecast, Australian Turf Club officials are confident of an upgrade to a ‘Good 4’ for Day 2 of The Championships.

“A good track most definitely will help Changingoftheguard,” Lees said.

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“He just can’t get traction any more on the wet surfaces.

“Changingoftheguard has drawn an inside gate, and it’s a very open Sydney Cup.

“He can run well for sure.”

Lees has three representatives in his bid to win tomorrow’s $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) for a sixth time.

Lord Of Biscay (James McDonald) is $4.60 second favorite and understandably his top seed ahead of Imposant ($19) and Miss Busslinger ($34).

“Lord Of Biscay is at least as good as he was 12 months ago when runner-up to Matcha Latte, who is obviously the one we have to beat again, and we’re meeting him 1.5kg worse,” Lees said.

“But I think he can turn the tables.

“We don’t want to be too far off Matcha Latte, but Lord OfBiscay is coming in as an impressive last start winner (he beat Imposant and Miss Spacegirl in the Wild Card at home on March 31).

“The good track also suits Lord Of Biscay.

“Our mares Imposant and Miss Busslinger have both drawn well, and have place chances.”

Lees also gives Satono Invader ($18) a good chance in the $1m Australian Oaks (2400m).

“She ran to the line well when third last week in the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m), suggesting the extra distance won’t bother her,” he said.

“Satono Invader keeps improving, and has done well since last week’s run.”

Lees won last year’s Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) with Infancy (Collett), and has her ready to attempt a repeat performance.

“Whilst she hasn’t drawn the best (outside in a field of 12), she drew much better last year but still came from well back and down the centre of the track in the straight,” he said.

“Infancy was only two lengths away when first-up in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens three weeks ago, is back against her own sex and blinkers come off.”

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Lees’ other Randwick runner is the lightly-raced two-year-old She’s Extra (Damian Lane) in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m).

The Exceedance filly won her first two starts at home over 900m and at Warwick Farm 1100m before finishing second to Reachin’ Out at the Kensington track on March 25.

“Provided she trained on well after her last run, this race was always in our mind,” Lees said.

“It’s another test for her, but she is in great order.”

. Promising three-year-old Night Agent, who made it three wins from five starts at the midweek metropolitan meeting at Hawkesbury two weeks ago, may chase further success at Randwick in a fortnight.

Lees’ sole acceptor at Doomben tomorrow is True To Form (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1350m), but he is unlikely to run because of his wide draw.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, APRIL 10, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS