POSH’S DAUGHTER KICKS OFF LEES’ HOME TRACK FOUR-PEAT

LIKE mother, like daughter!

Whilst she has a fair way to go to emulate the deeds of her dam Princess Posh, at least Poshy’s Girl is off the mark – and in the process led the way for a four-peat for Newcastle’s leading trainer Kris Lees at his home track yesterday.

A lightly-raced four-year-old mare, Poshy’s Girl ($7), a daughter of Pierro, broke through in the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1200m) at only her fourth start.

She is Princess Posh’s second foal; her first (a half-sister by Justify to Poshy’s Girl) died after birth.

An Australian Bloodstock syndicate raced Princess Posh (by Canford Cliffs), who won eight races and nearly $760,000 in prizemoney.

She was particularly efficient at her home track at Broadmeadow – and at 1400m.

Princess Posh won a Provincial Championships Qualifier and Group 3 Tibbie Stakes in 2018, and the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket (now Stakes) the following year.

Australian Bloodstock purchased Poshy’s Girl for $45,000 from Coolmore Stud when offered at the 2023 Inglis HTBA yearling sale in Sydney.

Ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, Poshy’s Girl would not be denied yesterday and fought on gamely to edge out Wyong trainer Nikki Hodgson’s $2.10 favorite Algorithmic, who initially fetched $760,000 as a yearling before being onsold online for $60,000 in April.

As with Princess Posh, Lees also trained the talented sprinter Graff, the sire of the second of his quartet, Agraffe Rocket.

Another Van Overmeire mount, Agraffe Rocket ($2 favorite) broke through in the Maiden Plate (1400m) at his fifth start after two minor placings.

A recent city runner-up at the Kensington track in town, the three-year-old gelding defeated second favorite Artgirl ($2.50) and $26 outsider Royal and Ready.

Like Poshy’s Girl, Agraffe Rocket is another member of the Australian Bloodstock team – but cost a deal more than her.

He fetched $200,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast.

Lees’ winning run continued with Rumdabar (2YO Handicap, 1300m) and Oakfield Neptune (Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1200m).

Both were favorites; Rumdabar ($3.90) landing some good bets after firming from double figure odds, and Oakfield Neptune ($1.85) maintained her excellent form.

Keagan Latham had the mount on Rumdabar, who was having only his second start, and Grant Buckley rode Oakfield Neptune, who took her record to three wins from only six starts.

Nathan Long bred Castelvecchio colt Rumdabar from his unraced mare Novacastrian, who has also produced the Lees-trained six times winner Little Beginnings (by Shamus Award).

Prolific owner Bruce Mackenzie went to $650,000 to secure Oakfield Neptune, a daughter of Deep Field, at the 2023 Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast.

She is putting together a nice record, and seemingly has more to come given the fact that she has been sparingly raced to date.

Wyong’s Kim Waugh was the other provincial trainer to hit the winning list at the 10-race Newcastle program.

Waugh’s Free and Fast (Rory Hutchings) made it two wins from five starts when successful in the Class 1 Handicap (1400m) at his first start for his new trainer.

An $11 chance, the Wootton Basset three-year-old defeated Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle’s Turning Circle ($7.50).

Newcastle apprentice Liberty Smyth rode her 25^th career winner on Port Macquarie-trained Auzstar ($6) in the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m), whilst senior jockey Ash Morgan led rival jockeys a merry chase at Eagle Farm, leading throughout on $21 roughie Zuleika in the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) for fillies and mares.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JUNE 28, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS