KRIS Lees says he can’t split his Newcastle Gold Cup favorites, and that luck in running will determine his best chance.
In an open renewal of the $300,000 Group 3 Cup (2300m), Cleveland (Ben Melham) is an easing $4.20 favorite with TAB.com.au, and Kalapour (Damien Oliver) is only slightly behind his stablemate at $4.80.
The Lees stablemates have drawn awkwardly, with Kalapour to start from the outside in a capacity field of 16, and Cleveland is only two inside him.
“Cleveland ran well first-up when fourth in the Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick last month and is going to be better suited at this extra distance, and Kalapour fortunately came through the Wyong Cup drama unscathed and has worked really well since,” Lees said this afternoon.
“Naturally I would have preferred both horses to have drawn softer, and they will get back in the field.
“I’m very happy with Cleveland and Kalapour going into the race, and there’s nothing between them.
“Whichever horse gets the best run is going to be the one to beat.”
Lees broke a frustrating run of minor placings by winning his maiden hometown Cup in 2020 with Mugatoo. He finished a close fourth with Luncies the following year and did not have a representative last year.
Lees can play a major hand in all three Group 3 races at the Cup meeting, as he also has three runners in each of the Cameron Handicap (1500m) and Tibbie Stakes (1400m).
It’s 14 years since he won the Cameron with Absolutelyfabulous, and he has won the Tibbie twice (with Fine Bubbles in 2014 and Princess Posh in 2018).
He saddles last year’s runner-up Luncies (Oliver), Inver Park (Dylan Gibbons) and Spangler (Tom Sherry) in this year’s race.
Lees has decided to replace visors with a nose roll on Luncies, who is resuming as he was 12 months ago when narrowly beaten by Wild Chap in a six-horse Cameron.
“Luncies works in the nose roll, and it’s simply about changing gear on these older horses to keep them focused,” he said.
“He has drawn awkwardly and I think he will find the 1500m too short, but the other pair Inver Park and Spangler have strong chances.
Inver Park, after opening at $11 last Monday, has kept firming and this afternoon was sharing Cameron favoritism with topweight Skyman at $5. Spangler was an $8.50 chance.
“I’m expecting Inver Park and Spangler to run really well,” Lees said. “They ran seventh and fifth respectively in a Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill late last month, and both were good runs.
“Inver Park is probably my pick of the trio, but I’m warming to Spangler (this year’s runaway Provincial Championships Final winner) from the inside barrier.”
Lees’ three runners in the Tibbie are Bellatrix Black (Oliver), Razeta (Dylan Gibbons) and Loves Me Likearock (Andrew Gibbons), and Razeta is clearly his pick.
“She is proven at the 1400m, and her strong-finishing first-up fourth at Rosehill late last month over 1200m was a beauty,” Lees said.
“Bellatrix Black could easily run a race fresh, and Loves Me Likearock has drawn the outside barrier and will have to do a bit of work from out there.”
Lees’ other runner at the Cup meeting is Satirical Fan (Dylan Gibbons) in the Maiden Handicap (1400m), and has a cross-over nose band going back on him.
“He was a bit aggressive first-up when narrowly beaten at Tuncurry,” Lees said.
“That was his first run since early May, so he will have taken improvement from that and should get a nice run from a soft draw.”
. Lees has confirmed Protagonist (Dylan Gibbons) will run at Randwick on Saturday in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) even though he has drawn poorly.
“He has come on nicely since his close second in the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury last month when resuming,” Lees said.
“The 2000m looks perfect for him.”
. Lees runs Zanzibar Gem (Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap, 900m), Classic Deel (Benchmark 64 Handicap, 2300m) and Terrameades (Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1250m) at Saturday’s Newcastle meeting, and favored Classic Deel as his best chance.
“She has now had four runs back, and gets to a distance which will suit her,” he said.
Andrew Gibbons rides Zanzibar Gem and Classic Deel, and Aaron Bullock has the mount on Terrameades.
. The powerful Ciaron Maher-David Eustace team will have three runners from their Newcastle base at the Cup meeting.
They are Nondisclosure (Maiden Handicap, 1400m), Rise To It (Class 1/Maiden Plate, 1850m), and Zoukerino (Hurricane Handicap, 900m).
Zac Lloyd rides Nondisclosure, and Jason Collett partners Rise To It and Zoukerino.
. Other provincial runners in the three Group 3 features are:
GOLD CUP: Hosier (Mark Minervini), Torrens (Marc Chevalier), and Parry Sound (Sara Ryan);
CAMERON HCP: Aramayo (Sam Kavanagh);
TIBBIE STAKES: Arts and Sunborn (Edward Cummings), Short Shorts (Brad Widdup).
. Last season’s leading Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price have carried their form into the new season, and clinched a home track double today with Spirit Of Varanasi ($8.50) and Extreme Freedom ($6.50), with Brock Ryan riding the pair.
Newcastle’s Nathan Doyle also joined the Kembla winning list, taking the closer with $2.80 favorite Sunzou (Koby Jennings), who led throughout.
*Words John Curtis, September 14, 2023 - Pics Bradley Photos*
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