OPEN company newbie Age Of Sail is the pick of Kris Lees’ two runners as he chases a second Wyong Gold Cup on Friday.
Dyan Gibbons rides Age Of Sail, and Josh Parr has the mount on stablemate Luncies in the $250,000 Listed feature to be run over 2100m.
It has been eight years since Lees won the Wyong Cup with French import (Robert Thompson), who handled the heavy ground to defeat subsequent Newcastle Gold Cup winner Sacred Master.
Slow Pace had 54kg in his victory in 2016, and Age Of Sail also has the same weight.
The Cup field was reduced to 11 following Raging Bull’s defection to the City Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
“Age Of Sail has been out of luck in his recent Sydney runs with big weights, and steps up to open company,” Lees said this morning.
“He is a nice horse and on potential is the pick of my two runners.
“He has drawn the outside, and it will be up to Dylan to get some cover around midfield.
“Luncies (who has 4.5kg more than Age Of Sail) didn’t fire in the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury last month and needs to step up, although the extra distance is more suitable.”
Lees thought enough of Age Of Sail to make him one of his five entries for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.
Age Of Sail, a six-year-old son of unbeaten UK champion Frankel, races in the same colours as Lees’ magnificent mare Lucia Valentina, who died at Widden Stud last week at 14 years of age.
Lucia Valentina brilliantly won the 2016 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick, overpowering her opposition to score easily.
Wyong trainer Sara Ryan is torn between her home track Cup and a Randwick assignment on Saturday with last start winner Roma Avenue.
Reece Jones has been booked for the gelding in both the Cup, and Benchmark 94 Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
“It’s a difficult decision because the 1600m at Randwick suits him, and I would also like to have a runner in my home track Cup,” Ryan said early Thursday afternoon.
“I’ll wait until as late as possible before the 7.30am deadline on Friday to see what the scratchings are from either race.”
Roma Avenue has won up to 1800m, but has never been tried beyond 1900m.
With Jones aboard, the six-year-old gelding won a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 17 at only his second run back from a spell.
Roma Avenue has drawn the rails in a current field of eight at Randwick, but 10 in a current field of 11 at Wyong.
Ryan’s fellow Wyong trainer Kim Waugh has Camaguey (Jay Ford) in the Cup, and Newcastle’s Paul Perry has booked apprentice Braith Nock (though he is unable to claim) for his late entry Olympic Gaze.
Story John Curtis, September 5, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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