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Lees Relies On Onemorezeta At Sandown

3 minute read

Trainer Kris Lees has lost half his “double act” for his Melbourne spring carnival wind-up at Sandown on Saturday – and has resorted to blinkers for his remaining hope Onemorezeta.

The carnival’s leading jockey Kerrin McEvoy will ride Onemorezeta in the $150,000 Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1500m) against her own sex.

Felines also stayed on in Melbourne to contest the Doveton Stakes (1000m), but Lees pulled the pin on a start and has terminated her current campaign.

“She has been starting to feel the hard tracks in Melbourne,” he said. “With her, you know when it’s time to stop. Her joints started to become a bit puffy.

“Felines has done a good job this campaign (she won the Group 3 Concorde Stakes, 1000m at Randwick in early September) and will have a break.”

So it’s up to Onemorezeta to fly the stable flag at the end of the Melbourne carnival, and her trainer is pulling out all stops to try and make it a winning result.

The mare never travelled when she drew the rails alley and didn’t appreciate being cramped inside other runners when she failed over 1400m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day (November 1).

“I’ve decided to put the blinkers back on her,” Lees said.

“They were inconclusive when I tried them on her previously, as she wasn’t going so well at the time.

“She has trained on well since Flemington and a bit wider draw on Saturday will help.”

Onemorezeta has drawn barrier nine in a field of 16 in the set weights plus penalties’ event.

Meanwhile, Lees is sending Beretta in the opposite direction to run at Doomben on Saturday.

But he is leaving his other Brisbane acceptor, Game Pie, at home.

Michael Cahill rides Beretta, who has drawn an ideal barrier (three) in the Class 6 Handicap (1630m).

Beretta carried 60kg and was brave after being pressured up front when third to Montauk in a Benchmark 76 Handicap (1900m) at Canterbury on October 26.

The five-year-old, who carries the same colors as Lees’ dual Group 1 winner Le Romain, drops 4kg.

“This looks a suitable race for him,” Lees said. “From the soft draw, he should run well.”

Game Pie has been withdrawn from the Class 3 Plate (1350m).

“The meeting was initially scheduled for Eagle Farm, and this race was going to be run at 1400m,” Lees explained.

“It has been switched to Doomben, and there’s no point sending him up for a 1350m race. It wouldn’t suit him.”


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