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Stablemates Bypass Canterbury For Newcastle Clash

3 minute read

Stablemates Karavali and Princess Posh won’t oppose each other at Canterbury tomorrow night – but still will be rivals on the Beaumont track on Saturday.

Kris Lees has four acceptors at Canterbury, but has ruled both three-year-old fillies out of running in the Benchmark 67 Handicap (1250m).

Instead, they will line up at home in the Class 2 Handicap (1150m) against their own sex, where the rail is 5m out.

Aaron Bullock rides Karavali, a newcomer to the stable, and Andrew Gibbons has the Princess Posh mount.

Karavali has 59.5kg topweight, whereas Princess Posh has 3kg less.

A former New Zealander, Karavaliwas purchased by Lees’ close friend Ed Throsby last year and transferred to Newcastle.

She has started only four times (for one win), all as a two-year-old, and hasn’t raced since finishing fourth in a set weights plus penalties’ feature over 1300m at Hastings last April.

Lees has gained stewards’ permission to use a barrier blanket on the filly to help her settle in the barrier stalls on Saturday.

“She is a bit of a handful,” Lees said. “I expect her to get back in the run, but she will be strong late.

“Princess Posh was good first-up and has trained on well. She will be closer than the other filly in the run and should be hard to beat again.”

Princess Posh, a daughter of Canford Cliffs, scored on resumption in a Maiden Plate (1150m) on the Beaumont track when having only her second start.

Lees toyed with the idea of sending her to Melbourne for a $250,00 sales-related 1100m race at Flemington last Saturday, but opted to keep her at home.

His other Beaumont representative is Lomazzo (Bullock) in the Class 2 Handicap (1150m) for colts and geldings.

Lomazzo was an excellent second to Irish Constabulary in the Country Cup (1200m) at the $10m Magic Millions meeting on the Gold Coast on January 14.

He has 61kg topweight, but is very genuine and does look to have a good chance.

Whilst Karavali and Princess Posh bypass Canterbury tomorrow night, Lees nonetheless has excellent prospects with Reach For Heaven (Benchmark 67 Handicap, 1250m) and Upstart (Benchmark 73 Handicap, 1250m).

Brenton Avdulla rides Reach For Heaven, a lightly-raced three-year-old who takes on his own age at his second start this campaign.

The Savabeel gelding was responsible for an excellent first-up third in a Benchmark 71 Handicap (1200m) at a Saturday meeting at Randwick on January 14.

“I have given him three weeks since that run, and I’m happy with him,” Lees said.

“This looks to be a strong race, but he is a nice horse and I’m sure he will run well.”

Upstart, placed at both runs since resuming and also responsible for an excellent third in the Country Cup at the Gold Coast meeting on January 14, has Kerrin McEvoy aboard in the night’s feature event, worth $80,000.

“He had no luck at the Gold Coast, and hit the line hard,” Lees said. “Again, it is not an easy race to win, but he is well and has drawn the rails and has to be a good chance.”

Lees also will be represented by Star Reflection (Gibbons) in tomorrow’s $70,000 Queen Of The North Stakes (1200m) at Port Macquarie.

The highlight event at the Country Showcase fixture will be run as a Benchmark 75 Handicap (1200m) for fillies and mares.

Star Reflection is a model of consistency. Her 12-start career so far has resulted in four wins and five placings.

She was tough after covering ground in landing a Benchmark 70 Handicap (1350m) on the Beaumont track on January 21.

“Star Reflection is back in distance, but has drawn nicely and is sure to give a good account of herself once again,” Lees said.
Racing and Sports

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