NEWCASTLE FILLIES AGAINST EACH OTHER IN OAKS LEAD-UP

KRIS Lees has decided to pit his Queensland Oaks candidates Crathie Kirk and Erin Jo against each other at Doomben tomorrow.

The three-year-old fillies will line up in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m); the traditional lead-up to the $700,000 Group 1 Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm in a fortnight.

Tim Clark rides Crathie Kirk, and Tom Sherry is booked for Erin Jo.

Lees also accepted with Crathie Kirk and Erin Jo at the Gold Coast tonight in a 3&4YO Benchmark 68 Handicap (1800m), but has withdrawn both fillies.

“They both drew awkwardly in tonight’s race, and The Roses carries Group 2 status, so it’s significant if they can earn black type,” Lees said this morning.

“Crathie Kirk is chasing a hat-trick after wins in restricted class at Coffs Harbour and the Sunshine Coast.

“This is obviously a different proposition, but she keeps taking the next step and has drawn the rails, so she should get every chance.

“Erin Jo’s run in the Gold Coast Bracelet last time was inconclusive.

“She drew poorly, got back and then never got clear running over the closing stages.

“Erin Jo (a daughter of Lees’ former triple Group 1 winner Lucia Valentina) deserves another chance, and tomorrow will tell us if she goes on to the Oaks.”

Lees knows all about winning the Queensland fillies’ classic, having captured it three times – with Vitesse Dane (2005), Amokura (2023) and You Wahng last year.

Lees also runs Lord Of Biscay (Ben Melham) and Cloudland (Daniel Moor) in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m).

This year’s impressive Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner Lord Of Biscay hasn’t raced since finishing third in the Tamworth Gold Cup (1400m) on April 24, whilst accomplished wet tracker Cloudland broke through a day later in an Open Handicap (1200m) on a heavy Eagle Farm surface.

“Lord Of Biscay was freshened after the Tamworth Cup, and should react well to that,” Lees said.

“Cloudland strikes tougher opposition, but the wet ground is obviously an advantage.”

Lees says his other Doomben runner Barazin (Sherry) will need the run in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m).

Group 1 placegetter Pier Pressure makes a keenly awaited return at Royal Randwick tomorrow after a lengthy absence from the track.

Apprentice Anna Roper, now on loan to Randwick trainer Tom Charlton, rides the five-year-old mare in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).

Pier Pressure, who as a two-year-old ran third in the 2023 Group 1 Sires over tomorrow’s course, put three wins together at Scone, Canterbury and Randwick in late 2024, and hasn’t started since finishing fifth in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m) at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting just over 12 months ago.

“Pier Pressure had a tendon issue, but I’m very happy with how she is progressing since coming back into work,” Lees said.

“Obviously with the long lay-off, she will take improvement from tomorrow’s race, but has shown in the past she can handle wet ground.”

Miss Busslinger (Sam Clipperton) also contests the same race, and has been freshened since contesting the $1m PMC Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 11.

Lees runs both Brave Call (Kerrin McEvoy) and Bestower (Alysha Collett) in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (2000m).

“Brave Call has had a nice trial since his first-up seventh over 1600m at Warwick Farm last month,” Lees said.

“He has won second-up before, handles wet ground and I’m expecting him to run well.

“Bestower was doing her best work at the end of a 1700m Benchmark 78 Handicap at Scone last Saturday, and is on the quick back-up.

“The extra distance suits, but is yet to prove herself on wet ground.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MAY 22, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS