LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER AT GOSFORD

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THERE was a certain synergy about Powerful Tune’s Gosford victory yesterday.

Making her provincial debut, the Kris Lees-trained filly at $7.50 clinched her second success from only four starts when she defeated stablemate Issy’s Star ($4.40) in the F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) at the annual Family Of League race meeting.

Powerful Tune is a daughter of French import Singing, with whom the leading Newcastle trainer won the 2018 Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m).

Singing, a son of Singspiel, previously stood at stud in Queensland, and it is understood he is now in Tasmania.

“Powerful Tune was bred by Walter Power, and is the first of Singing’s progeny Kris has trained,” stable spokesman Danny Greer said today.

“She is certainly showing surprising dash considering her Dad was a stayer (Singing’s Gosford triumph culminated in a hat-trick after scoring twice at Doomben over 2000m and 2200m).

“All Powerful Tune’s four starts (she won at Taree over 1007m in May on debut) have been on wet tracks, and it was a case of a fit filly yesterday taking advantage of heavy ground to lead throughout.”

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Newcastle apprentice Shannen Llewellyn had the mount on Powerful Tune, whereas currently suspended stable apprentice Will Stanley rode the filly in her Taree triumph when she also led her rivals a merry dance.

Preparing for a tilt at tomorrow’s Royal Randwick meeting tomorrow, Lees reeled in a treble yesterday; two winners at Gosford and another at Taree to take him to 94 NSW winners currently for the season.

Debutante No Limits ($2.50 favorite) made a great start to his career by taking the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1000m) at Gosford, and rapid improver Antilopini ($1.40 favorite) posted a hat-trick in easily winning the Class 2 Handicap (1412m) at Taree.

“No Limits is a professional youngster, and was impressive yesterday,” Greer said.

“So much so that Kris will look to take him to town for his next assignment.

“Antilopini is going great, and it was an easy watch at Taree.”

Lees takes Rumdabar, Power Of The Brave and Imposant to Randwick, and also has a number of runners at Newcastle tomorrow as he strives for a century of winners in his home State before the end of the season.

Aaron Bullock rides Rumdabar (2YO Handicap, 1400m) and Imposant (Benchmark 88 Handicap, 1400m), and Shannen Llewellyn partners a resuming Power Of The Brave in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m).

“Aaron most likely will ride both horses around 1kg over, whilst Shannen’s 3kg city claim will certainly assist Power Of The Brave,” Greer said.

Rumdabar goes back to town after a forgettable city debut at Randwick when he was forced to race wide throughout, and then hit back by breaking through at home against his own age on a heavy track on June 27.

“Rumdabar was strong at the end of 1300m at Newcastle, and has trained on really well,” Greer said.

“That performance indicated he will have no trouble handling 1400m, and he has had the experience of racing at Randwick.

“We’re expecting him to run very well again.

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“Power Of the Brave is a consistent sprinter, and has had two nice trials to prepare for his return.

“Shannen rode him in a jumpout here recently to get a feel of him.

“Power Of The Brave is a Randwick winner, and won first-up at Newcastle (with 60kg) over 900m last October, beating a good class field.

“Impostant has been out of a place twice since finishing second to stablemate Lord Of Biscay in the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Randwick in April, but she is back in class.

“The Provincial-Midway Final was at 1400m, and this is her pet distance.

“She is not to be overlooked.”

. Fellow Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer joined Lees in the winner’s circle at Taree.

Deamer’s mare Rose Water (Ben Looker) was untroubled to take the Gloucester Cup Benchmark 58 Handicap (1614m) as a $1.45 hotpot.

The four-year-old daughter of Calyx also won at Taree over 1600m at her previous start on June 23, handling heavy ground on both occasions.

Rose Water is a daughter of nine-times winner and 2006 Caulfield Cup runner-up Aqua D’Amore, who died in March 2023.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JULY 10, 2026