Proud Novocastrian Kris Lees has declared Newcastle the state’s finest monitor as he prepares to defend dwelling turf with Rustic Metal in Saturday’s $1m The Hunter (1300m).
Lees, a a number of premiership and Group 1 profitable coach, is making ready to unleash one other robust workforce on the most important day of the season at his dwelling course.
With Rustic Metal the headline act in The Hunter, Lees may even have untapped filly Type Phrases within the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) whereas Zoe’s Promise (race 4), Tavi Time (race 9), Rogue Bear (race 9) and Acquitted (race 10) are all engaged.
Lees is eager to make his presence felt on a cheerful looking floor for his steady the place he has chalked up 396 winners – probably the most of any venue.
• Runner-by-runner evaluation for The Hunter at Newcastle
“I feel it’s the finest monitor within the state,” Lees mentioned.
“It’s solely 5 or 6 years previous and value just a few million so for that cause nevertheless it races extraordinarily honest and might deal with large quantity of rain.
“You sometimes get the odd bias however that’s rail placements too.
“It’s good that they’re utilising it for a Saturday assembly and I feel it’s the appropriate time to do it off the top of the spring.
“It exhibits with depth of the fields, it will get higher yearly.”
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Lees is but to win The Hunter however has had a number of close to misses already within the race.
Wandabaa completed second within the race behind Misplaced And Operating in 2021, Particular Reward was runner-up a 12 months earlier behind Candy Deal whereas Tactical Benefit discovered one higher within the first version in opposition to Savatiano.
Rustic Metal is a $16 probability to snare Lees an elusive Hunter victory in 2023.
The Deep Discipline gelding had an prolonged stint on the sidelines as a result of bone bruising however returned in terrific order with a fast-finishing seventh within the Group 3 Sydney Stakes final month.
“I feel Rustic Metal had the very best sectionals of the race,” Lees mentioned.
“He was superb. Sadly the gate most likely dictates for him and he should be ridden related once more, which makes it very exhausting.
“There’s not lots of tempo however a giant discipline and he ought to get a pleasant sufficient arrange however it’s a little regarding how far off them he will probably be.”
Sam Clipperton rides Rustic Metal and Lees plans to focus on the Group 3 Competition Stakes and Group 2 The Ingham with Rustic Metal subsequent month.
Stablemates Spangler and Acquitted had additionally been nominated for The Hunter however Lees elected to go to completely different races as an alternative.
“Spangler will go to The Gong, which was most likely all the time the plan and we nominated in case they got here up a bit lighter than anticipated and Acquitted will go to the opposite race final on the cardboard,” Lees mentioned.
“Acquitted can react effectively recent.”
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Lees’ different function runner Type Phrases steps as much as the Mile after getting her maiden out of the best way with a robust effort over 1400m at Hawkesbury final time.
She is a $13 probability within the Spring Stakes.
“She was good the opposite day and we’ve all the time considered her as a stakes filly, whether or not that’s this preparation or subsequent preparation,” Lees mentioned. “She’s going to acquit herself effectively from the nice draw.”
Lees additionally confirmed Rogue Bear is an opportunity to run in Sunday’s Taree Cup as an alternative of at Newcastle on Saturday.
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Scratching comes Far Too Simple
Far Too Simple was an unlucky eleventh hour scratching from the $1m The Hunter on Friday afternoon after sustaining a head damage whereas exercising on the horse walker.
Coach David McColm reported to Racing NSW Stewards that his horse would have to be scratched after struggling a laceration to his brow within the premature incident.
Far Too Simple was assessed by a vet, which decided it was mandatory for the horse to be medicated to deal with the wound.
Far Too Simple was an equal $6 second elect with TAB when she was faraway from betting on Friday afternoon.
It is a huge Sure for Max Lees Traditional
The aptly named Triple Sure may present probably the most becoming of debut winners for an Everest profitable sire when she hunts Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Max Lees 2YO Traditional (900m) at Newcastle.
Triple Sure is a part of the primary two-year-old crop of 2019 The Everest winner Sure Sure Sure, which has solely had a handful of starters however is but to sire a winner.
She is one among two of his progeny within the two-year-old function with Nymphadora additionally lining up.
Coach Anthony Cummings has solely given Triple Sure one trial within the lead as much as her debut and the filly confirmed some promise to complete an in depth second in an 800m warmth at Hawkesbury on Monday.
“It was trial,” Cummings mentioned.
“She clearly had a bit to study and she or he has come out of it OK.
“She has drawn alright so we thought why not? She has proven us sufficient to say it’s worthwhile taking her to the races.”
Clipperton will accomplice Triple Sure ($13) from an ideal attract barrier 5.
Cummings doesn’t count on his filly to steer from the draw however hopes she will land in a outstanding spot in working and launch her assault late.
“There’s a bit of labor to be completed to see which runner may need the gate velocity however you may think about there’s going to be a pair labelled pressing,” he mentioned.
“Gai’s invariably are so we would be capable of discover a place behind them like she did within the trials, then work out means as much as them and hopefully she is robust sufficient.”
Cummings will get each of his runners out of the best way early on the cardboard, with stablemate Stray poised to line up within the Karaka 2024 Halfway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m).
The daughter of Thunder Fantasy solely beat one runner dwelling in her first two begins this preparation earlier than producing an improved effort to complete third over 1550m at Randwick Kensington on November 1.
“It was a significantly better run final time, so she goes effective,” Cummings mentioned.
“I might count on an improved efficiency off her final begin.”
Chad Schofield rides Stray ($16).
Good floor predicted for Newcastle
Thursday night time rain has the Newcastle Jockey Membership assured The Hunter day monitor will ‘play good’ for runners on the huge function assembly.
The Newcastle monitor had 10mm of rain on Thursday night time and an extra 3mm on Friday morning with clearer situations all through a lot of Friday.
It was rated a Good 4 on Friday with Newcastle Jockey Membership Common Supervisor of Racecourse and Amenities Chris Nation giving an replace on the situations by way of the membership’s social media.
“I hope that’s the top of it (the rain) as a result of whether it is this monitor will play good,” he mentioned.
“It’s gave it the drink that I most likely would have gave it and will probably be good simply to get some solar on it.
“It ought to race very well with that pure rain in it.”
Winds of 30km/h from the east are forecast late within the day on Saturday, which might blow in riders faces down the again straight.
O’Hara going through six weeks on sidelines
Sydney jockey Kathy O’Hara appears to be like set to be sidelined till across the New 12 months as a result of a foot damage.
O’Hara revealed on Friday that she has sustained a number of lisfranc fractures in her proper foot whereas additionally affected by comfortable tissue injury to the identical area.
Whereas she gained’t require surgical procedure, the Group 1 profitable rider is predicted to spend the following six weeks on the sidelines.
She has not ridden since Women Day at Hawkesbury final week after hitting her foot whereas within the limitations on the assembly.
O’Hara loved a fruitful spring carnival with a Group 1 victory aboard Rediener within the Epsom Handicap in addition to a giant race triumph on Palmetto within the 5 Diamonds Prelude.
She has 14 winners for the season.
WINDING BACK THE CLOCK
FIVE YEARS AGO
Aramayo, who on the time was educated by James Cummings, began $6 favorite in a wide-open version of the Group 3 NJC Spring Stakes (1600m). Ridden on the day by Tye Angland, son of Poet’s Alternative beat his Godolphin stablemate Cloak by the very best a part of a size with Greysful Glamour again in third. Aramayo, now stationed with Sam Kavanagh has accepted for a race at Newcastle on Saturday in addition to Sunday’s Taree Cup.
TEN YEARS AGO
Savvy Nature was having simply his fourth profession begin when he ran out a straightforward winner of the Spring Stakes with James McDonald driving for John O’Shea. Runner-up within the function was Wordplay with the longer term Doncaster / Epsom and Canterbury Stakes winner Pleased Clapper clocking in third. Savvy Nature went on so as to add the Group 2 MVRC AAMI Vase to his C.V. which included fourths within the Rosehill Guineas and AJC Derby, each occasions behind Criterion.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
Two champion jockeys mixed to take out the 2003 NJC Spring Stakes with NZ-bred gelding Allgunadoit. A grandson of Danehill, Allgunadoit was housed at Randwick by Kevin Moses and ridden to victory by Darren Beadman. Beadman’s mount defeated the Woodlands/Hawkes colt Niello who will probably be finest remembered as being a full brother to Lonhro. Allgunadoit was one among 5 winners on the cardboard for Beadman.
Initially revealed as Coach Kris Lees labels Newcastle ‘the very best monitor within the state’ forward of Rustic Metal’s tilt at The Hunter
