KRIS Lees has his hometown Gold Cup on the radar for another import – but this time in different colours.
Lees won his maiden Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) with Mugatoo in 2020 for Australian Bloodstock, and Age Of Sail, who races in the same colours as the leading Newcastle trainer’s former star Lucia Valentina and this year’s Group 1 winner Kalapour, can take an important step towards that goal at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
“Newcastle in September is the plan with him,” Lees said ahead of the five-year-old’s Benchmark 78 Handicap test over the Cup distance.
“It’s his first test at 2400m here, but he is a winner on a few occasions back in the UK at the trip and been placed at 3200m.
“The only query might be that he is getting to the distance at only his third run this preparation, but he is in good order.”
Nash Rawiller rode Age Of Sail at his last start when a solid finishing third (beaten less than a length) over 2000m at Royal Randwick a fortnight ago, and sticks with him.
Lees has decided to put a tongue tie on Age Of Sail.
“He has been playing around with his tongue, and I feel this will help him,” he said.
The $300,000 Newcastle Gold Cup will be run on Friday, September 20.
Lees also runs Zoe’s Promise (Jay Ford) in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m), and both Oakfield Duke (Keagan Latham) and another import Lord Of Biscay (Tim Clark) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m).
“Zoe’s Promise is back from tackling stronger races against her own sex in Brisbane,” he said.
“She is capable of running a cheeky race.
“Oakfield Duke is racing in great form winning two of his last three starts, and now steps up to Saturday grade.
“We’ve kept Lord Of Biscay on the sidelines as the feeling from Australian Bloodstock was that he wasn’t comfortable on wet ground overseas.
“He is a nice horse who has been lightly-raced and has drawn well for his local debut. I’m sure he can run a good race.”
. There will be plenty of interest in yet another import who makes his metropolitan debut for Lees at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The former Irish three-year-old Zaphod (Andrew Mallyon) contests the 3YO Handicap (1800m) at only his fourth start.
He created a big impression at a Gosford meeting held at Scone on July 2 when defeating stablemate Pier Pressure in a Class 1/Maiden Plate (1700m) at his first start since last September.
“Zaphod had been working well, and I wasn’t surprised,” Lees said.
“There was nothing on for him in Sydney, so the Brisbane race against his own age looked appealing.
“He looks a promising young stayer.”
Lees has opted for blinkers on Power Of The Brave (Mallyon), who has been switched to Queensland for the Class 3 Handicap (1200m).
“He has been going through the motions, and hopefully the blinkers will switch him on,” he said.
“Power Of The Brave won at Doomben 12 months ago, and is up to this race if he can find his best form.”
Kordia (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1600m) is Lees’ other Eagle Farm acceptor, but he won’t run.
Instead, he is heading for the final day of the Grafton carnival on Sunday to contest the Maclean Cup (1400m).
Story John Curtis, July 19, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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