NEWCASTLE APPRENTICE TO GIVE QUEENSLAND RACING A CRACK ON REGULAR BASIS

BEN Osmond is switching states to have a crack at south-east Queensland racing as his days as an apprentice draw closer to an end.

Osmond will remain with leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, but joins his Gold Coast stable.

He flies north today, and will ride Bengal Boy for his boss at Eagle Farm tomorrow in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1600m).

“Ben has ridden 128 career winners, including 30 metropolitan and 58 at the provincials,” stable spokesman Danny Greer said this morning.

“He has made a few trips to Queensland in recent months to ride at Saturday meetings, and was successful on Power Of The Brave for Kris at the Sunshine Coast metropolitan meeting last weekend.

“Ben comes out of his time as an apprentice at the end of May and, with the Sydney autumn carnival on our doorstep, Kris feels it is the right time for him to head north and try his luck there.

“He can claim 2kg at metropolitan meetings, and 1.5kg at midweek Ipswich meetings.

“Ben has built connections in Queensland with trainers such as Jack Bruce (for whom he also has a mount, Atmosphere, at Eagle Farm tomorrow) and Chris and Corey Munce (he won on Navyonthehighway at Doomben last October for the father and son team).

“And he has a strong association with leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller, who also has a Gold Coast stable.

“Obviously the length of his stay in Queensland will be determined by the amount of success he has, and we’re confident he will do well.”

Bengal Boy, a winner at Eagle Farm over 2200m last August, begins a new campaign and Osmond’s claim lessens the topweight’s burden to 59.5kg.

“Bengal Boy has been sharp in his work, and can run an honest race, but will take improvement from this run,” Greer said.

James McDonald links with the stable to partner Little Beginnings at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1350m).

“Little Beginnings has had a long campaign, and is very genuine,” Greer said.

“He won at big odds at Warwick Farm last October, and has been runner-up at his last two runs at Saturday metropolitan meetings.”

Kind Words (Dylan Gibbons) is the stable’s other Rosehill representative, in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1500m).

“It’s a bit of a gap from her last race when she won the Group 3 Belle of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford toward the end of last month,” Greer said.

“However she is in good order, and her performance tomorrow will help Kris decide options for her during the autumn carnival.”

Calga Power (Jason Collett) in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m) is the stable’s lone representative at tonight’s Canterbury fixture.

“Calga Power is racing well, and his latest third on the Kensington track over 1100m was a good effort as he was posted wide but stuck to his task well in the straight,” Greer said.

“He goes up in class, but four scratchings have reduced the field to eight, and going up to 1250m will suit.

“He can definitely run well, and further improve his already nice record of two wins and four placings from only eight starts.”

. Ben Osmond is being managed by Josh Barrett (0404 694273).

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 30, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS