“NEW LOOK” IMPORT FINALLY READY TO BEGIN NEW CAMPAIGN

KRIS Lees concedes Adelaide River’s rivals will probably be a “bit slick” for him, but still expects his spring aspirant to run well at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.

The highly-regarded import belatedly begins a new campaign – as a gelding and with a tongue tie – in the Spring Preview Handicap (1400m), with Dylan Gibbons aboard.

Adelaide River, after two impressive 1200m trial wins at Wyong in June and Gosford last month, was to have kicked off in the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) at Royal Randwick last Saturday, but the meeting was abandoned because of rain and his trainer chose not to run him when the race was postponed to the Kensington track midweek.

“It was disappointing to hear Rosehill has had more rain (downgrading the track to a Heavy 10), but we have to get his campaign underway,” leading Newcastle trainer Lees said this morning.

“Adelaide River handled the wet ground well in his Gosford trial.

“They will probably be a bit slick for him at 1400m, but he is going well.

“I have no doubt gelding him has made quite a difference.”

Adelaide River, thrice placed at Group 1 level overseas (including the 2023 Irish Derby when runner-up to eight times winner Auguste Rodin), is amongst Lees’ entries for both the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 and Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley a week later.

“Of course we’re hoping to get him to one of those goals, and we’ll know more about which way to head after his second run.

“That will be in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at weight-for-age at Randwick on September 6.”

Adelaide River ran fourth to subsequent Caulfield Cup runner-up Buckaroo in last year’s Chelmsford at only his third Australian start.

Lees also runs Wisnierska (Kerrin McEvoy, 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1300m) and Cloudland (Gibbons, Benchmark 94 Handicap, 1200m) at Rosehill.

“Wisnierska ran well first-up when placed at Randwick last month,” Lees said.

“She hasn’t raced on heavy ground and this will be a good test for her.

“Cloudland won’t be bothered by the conditions and was a course and distance winner first-up in early July.’

“He has drawn awkwardly, but it might not be a disadvantage by the time the last race comes around.”

Lees has sent Brudenell (Mark Zahra) to Melbourne to contest tomorrow’s Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

“He races well anywhere, but has had two starts at Caulfield for a win and a fifth in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate,” he said.

“Brudenell has drawn well, and I’m sure he will turn in another excellent performance.”

Dream Hour (Andrew Mallyon) and Little Beginnings (Ryan Maloney) are Lees’ Brisbane acceptors, in the CG&E Class 6 Handicap (1350m) at Doomben.

“I’m not sure at this stage that one or both will run, but they are very capable on their day,” he said.

. Age Of Sail (Regan Bayliss) and El Jasor (Dylan Gibbons) are acceptors for Sunday’s Wyong Cup Prelude (2000m), run as a Class 6 Plate.

Wyong was rated a ‘Heavy 10’ this morning, and Lees says he will run El Jasor, but may not kick off Age Of Sail’s campaign on a very heavy surface.

El Jasor, a winner twice over 1800m and 2400m at the Sunshine Coast earlier in the year, resumed when seventh to Travolta in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m) at Randwick on July 26.

The Prelude winner secures a “free ticket” into the $250,000 Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) on September 5.

Story John Curtis, August 14, 2025