“OLD FIRM” TOGETHER FOR GOLDEN ROSE BID
KRIS Lees and his former apprentice Dylan Gibbons will team with Under Focus to chase a Golden Rose Stakes breakthrough at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The leading Newcastle trainer and now senior Sydney jockey have both been placed in the 1400m $1m feature for three-year-olds.
Lees finished third with $2.90 favorite Graff (Jason Collett) to The Autumn Sun in the 2018 edition, whilst Gibbons, as a non-claiming apprentice, almost won the Golden Rose at his first ride in the race in 2023.
He partnered the Warwick Farm-trained Encap ($15), who was just beaten by Joao Moreira’s mount Militarize.
Gibbons has ridden the Yu Long Investments colt in both starts this campaign at the scene of the Golden Rose - and the Too Darn Hot three-year-old has caught the eye both times.
He drew awkwardly and did his best work late when sixth to Chilly Girl in the Listed Rosebud (1100m) on August 15 and then, with a tick-over Gosford trial in between, finished third to Warwoven in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) on September 12.
“Under Focus worked really well on the Beaumont track this morning,” Lees said.
“I’m very happy with him.”
Lees’ prospects of snaring a 20th triumph at racing’s elite level – and second with Gibbons after winning the Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill in 2024 with Kalapour– were boosted when Under Focus drew barrier four this morning.
Thirteen horses (all males) were accepted for the Golden Rose.
Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has the other provincial representative in the Golden Rose, and Tenenbaum (Chad Schofield) also has fared well, drawing barrier two.
Newcastle jockey Aaron Bullock rides Scone-trained Cormier, who jumps from barrier six.
Meanwhile, last Saturday’s impressive Royal Randwick winner Night Agent is likely to be given his chance at obtaining higher honours at the same track at The Everest meeting on October 17.
“I’m looking at the $1m Silver Eagle (1300m),” Lees said.
The first three placegetters in the Silver Eagle are exempt from ballot for the $10m Group 1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at the same track a fortnight later.
Whilst Lees has been tagging Night Agent as a potential Provincial-Midway Championships contender next autumn, the ease of his latest win has understandably influenced him to keep going this campaign.
Night Agent has already won four of his only eight races.
Immediate plans for Changingoftheguard are on hold following his sixth to Aethelwulf in last Friday’s $300,000 Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m).
“Changingoftheguard had a few coughs afterwards and is under treatment,” Lees said.
“We’ll monitor his progress before making a decision on his next start.”
Stablemate Tavi Time resumed when sixth in last Friday’s Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle, but won’t line up in Saturday week’s $1.5m Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
The dual Summer Cup winner also will head to The Everest meeting on October 17 for the Big Dance Wild Card (1600m).
Having run in the Cameron, which carries Big Dance eligibility, the gelding can contest the Wild Card under the conditions of the race.
Tavi Time, the winner of 10 of his 33 starts, has been a representative in the last two runnings of the $3m Big Dance (1600m); this year to be run at Randwick on November 3.
As a $3.50 favorite he ran fourth to Gringotts in 2024, and was a $10 chance without luck in the straight when eighth, again to Gringotts, last year.
STORY JOHN CURTIS, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
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