LEES’ STRADBROKE GOAL WITH TAMWORTH CUP FANCY LORD OF BISCAY

BRILLIANT Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner Lord Of Biscay heads bush tomorrow seeking to add the Tamworth Cup to his resume.

And whilst victory would earn him another shot at the $3m Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick in November, Kris Lees has an even more important earlier goal in mind for the gelding.

That’s Brisbane’s feature sprint, the $3m Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 13.

“We have to get there of course,” Lees said today.

“But I would like to see him make the Stradbroke field.

“I think he would be a real lightweight chance given the right conditions.”

But first things first.

Lees says Lord Of Biscay has trained on well since trouncing his rivals in the $1m PMC Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 11, relishing the good surface and roomy track.

“I haven’t had to do a lot with him,” he said.

“He’s a naturally fit horse and goes to Tamworth in great order.

“Lord Of Biscay has drawn nicely, and looks hard to beat.”

Dylan Gibbons won the PMC Wild Card (1400m) at Newcastle late last month on Lord Of Biscay, but already had a Final commitment, and James McDonald partnered the import to the easiest of wins over stablemate Imposant and last year’s winner Matcha Latte.

Lord Of Biscay ran seventh to Gringotts in last year’s Big Dance after qualifying much earlier in the year by easily winning the Ballina Cup (1590m).

Lees takes five horses to Saturday’s Anzac Day meeting at Randwick, with two in each of the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) and Anzac Day Cup (1800m).

Newcomer Valorous Power (Tyler Schiller) and the promising Night Agent (Dylan Gibbons) contest the former, and Zaphod (Jason Collett) and Kind Words (Regan Bayliss) the latter.

“Valorous Power races in the Power Thoroughbreds colours, and the son of Frankel was bred by them,” Lees said.

“He had five starts in Ireland for two wins, and has taken a while to settle in after arriving here.

“This is a nice starting point, but I’m expecting he will take improvement

“Night Agent is taking the next step every time he goes to the races, and this is another test for him.

“With the rail out quite a distance, he is going to need everything go his way, but there’s no doubting his ability.

“Zaphod and Kind Words will most likely settle around midfield, and both have chances.”

Lees other Randwick runner is the three-year-old filly Cantiamo (Collett) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) against her own sex, and she races in a tongue tie.

“We’ve always had a good opinion of her, and this looks a really suitable race to get back into the winning list,” he said.

“Cantiamo was too classy for her rivals first-up at Gosford in restricted class, and then wasn’t far away at The Championships at Randwick when sixth (beaten only two lengths) to Plaintiff in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m).

“It’s a decent drop back on Saturday, and she has drawn to get every chance.”

. Lees has Cloudland (apprentice Ben Osmond) in the Kokoda Cup (1200m) at Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting.

“Ben is in good form with a midweek double at Doomben yesterday,” Lees said.

“Cloudland has been at our Gold Coast base for a while, and can improve on his two runs back.

“Any rain would indeed boost his chances.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, APRIL 23, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS