LEES READY TO BEGIN ANOTHER PMC CAMPAIGN AT HAWKESBURY

KRIS Lees is looking to begin his quest for a sixth Provincial-Midway Championships title at Hawkesbury on Thursday.

The leading Newcastle trainer has nominated a couple of his “girls” Imposant (above) and Miss Busslinger for the opening $150,000 Qualifier to be run over 1400m.

The first two placegetters automatically qualify for the $1m PMC Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 11 on Day 2 of The Championships.

Imposant, after winning a Kembla Grange Qualifier, ran a great race at $31 when third to Matcha Latte (her stablemate Lord Of Biscay was second) in last year’s Final.

She has had 20 starts – the maximum to be eligible for the series – and has trialled on three occasions in preparation for her resumption after winning a Class 6 Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on October 25 last year.

It’s a similar situation with Miss Busslinger, who also has had 20 starts and has been kept back to contest the series after winning a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m) on the Beaumont track on January 15 with a big weight.

She had a tick-over trial at Newcastle yesterday on the Beaumont track when second to topliner Gringotts in a 1000m heat.

Lees won the 2016 (Danish Twist) and 2018 (Serene Miss) Finals, and then three in a row with Cristal Breeze (2021), Kinloch (2022) and Spangler (2023).

Lees was pleased with Rivellino’s return fifth in last Saturday’s Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, and will start him again there next Saturday in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m).

“Rivellino did exactly what I wanted to see last week, making nice ground at the end,” he said this morning.

“It will probably be the same in the Hobartville, but he is coming up nicely for the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 7.”

Lees won’t have a runner at tomorrow’s Group 2 Apollo Stakes meeting at Royal Randwick, having withdrawn Cloudland from the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1300m).

But he has three representatives at tonight’s Canterbury fixture.

El Jasor (Sam Clipperton), with a tongue tie on, and Valimi (Josh Parr) both contest the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1900m), and Oakfield Mamselle (Jason Collett) tackles the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1550m) against her own sex.

“El Jasor will take improvement from this run, and Valimi is fitter for two runs back and getting to a suitable distance,” Lees said.

“Oakfield Mamselle did a good job to win at Newcastle last start, and I feel she will be hard to beat again.

“Five withdrawals have reduced the field to eight, and she has the inside barrier.”

With plenty of rain forecast for Brisbane, it’s a watch and wait situation with at least two of his three Eagle Farm acceptors tomorrow.

Herman Said (Ron Stewart) will definitely run in the 3YO Handicap (1200m).

“Two of his three wins have been on soft tracks, but yet to strike a heavy surface,” Lees said.

“Power Of The Brave (Open Handicap, 1000m) is fit and racing well and chasing a hat-trick, but I’ll wait and see what the track condition is in the morning.

“The same with Memoria (Benchmark 85 Handicap, 1200m). She is a five-times winner on soft ground, but was beaten at her only start on a heavy track.”

Entries for Hawkesbury’s opening Qualifier next Thursday have been extended until 11am on Monday.

Fourteen nominations, including the Lees pair and ruling PMC Final favorite, Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard’s Oui Oui Oui, were received by the original deadline today. This race is for both eligible provincial and Midway horses.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, FEBRUARY 13, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS