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Defending Provincial Championships titleholder Kris Lees feels this week’s rain has boosted the chances of Knit ‘N’ Purl in today’s second $150,000 qualifier at Hawkesbury today.

Lees, who has already qualified last week’s third placegetter Princess Posh from the opening heat of the 2017 series at Wyong, has four acceptors in a bid to strengthen his chances of again winning the $400,000 final at Randwick on April 8.

He is running three – Lomazzo (Blake Shinn), Knit ‘N’ Purl (Brenton Avdulla) and Star Reflection (Josh Parr) – on a Heavy 9 surface after lecting to scratch Reach For Heaven.

Lees, who qualified eight of the 15 starters in last year’s final and landed the quinella (Danish Twist from Powerline), said the conditions would suit proven wet tracker Knit ‘N’ Purl, who has won two of her three starts to date on heavy ground.

“She is racing well, and would have to be the pick of my runners given the circumstances,” he said.

Knit ‘N’ Purl easily beat her own sex over 1200m at Randwick last August in a Benchmark 83 on a “Heavy 10”, and has been placed at her last two starts at that track.

At her last run, fortune didn’t go her way when an unlucky third to Your Way in a Benchmark 85 Handicap (1200m) on February 13.

Your Way confirmed the form by scoring again at the same track last Saturday.

Whilst Lees is leaning toward Knit ‘N’ Purl, he has made important gear changes to Star Reflection. Blinkers go on whilst winkers come off at the same time.

“It’s a subtle change with Star Reflection and perhaps her outside alley (15) might not be such a disadvantage in view of the heavy track,” Lees said.

Star Reflection, also a heavy track winner, scored on the Beaumont track on January 21 in a Benchmark 70 Handicap (1350m) before finishing fifth to Shotgun Roulette (runner-up in last Sunday’s Country Championships qualifier at Taree) in the Queen Of The North (1200m) at Port Macquarie on February 3.

Lomazzo has been runner-up at his last two starts (in the Country Cup at the Magic Millions meeting at the Gold Coast on January 14 and with 60.5kg on the Beaumont track on February 16).

He has been placed twice from three heavy track assignments.

“Lomazzo is honest and will give himself every chance by putting himself on the speed,” Lees said.

Hawkesbury has five acceptors in the 1400m qualifier, with Garry White preparing pre-post favorite Generalissimo (Tye Angland).

Generalissimo ran a splendid third to subsequent winner Man From Uncle in the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last month, and runner-up Guard Of Honour ran well in last Saturday’s G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield after being forced to race wide without cover.

Whilst Generalissimo takes on older horses this time, he is already a heavy track winner at home and is definitely going to take beating as the 1400m looks as though it will suit him ideally.