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Heavy Track Suits Lees Team At Sunshine Coast

3 minute read

Blinkers are back on Just Dreaming at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday as trainer Kris Lees readies her for her major winter carnival target.

Just Dreaming has not raced since starting favorite when sixth to stablemate Serene Miss in the $500,000 Provincial Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 14.

She makes her Queensland debut in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) against her own sex.

Lees won the Bat Out Of Hell at the Gold Coast earlier in the month with Guard Of Honour for Queensland owners Ron and Judi Wanless and hopes he can do the same with Just Dreaming.

Damian Browne, who partnered Guard Of Honour, takes the Just Dreaming mount.

Just Dreaming
Just Dreaming Picture: Steve Hart

The Sunshine Coast track is rated heavy and Lees has sent four horses north for the meeting content in the knowledge that all can handle wet ground.

Envy Of All, Karavali and Aide Memoire joined Just Dreaming on the float trip.

“Just Dreaming was given a break at our Ellalong Farm after the Provincial Final and freshened up nicely,” Lees said.

“She’s had a recent trial and is ready to go back to the races.”

Lees’ winter target with Just Dreaming is the $500,000 Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) at Doomben on June 23, hence his reasoning putting blinkers back on her this weekend.

“With the Tiara being run at Doomben over a shorter trip than normal it’s important she needs to keep in touch,” he explained.

“Just Dreaming is such an honest mare that I’m sure she will race well on Saturday, and the wet track certainly won’t worry her.”

Lees has been waiting for a wet track for New Zealand mare Aide Memoire (Corey Brown), who tackles the $175,000 Moreton Cup.

Six of her seven wins before coming to Australia were achieved on either soft or heavy ground.

“Clearly her best form has been on wet tracks and she trialled nicely last week,” Lees said.

Aide Memoire finished a close eighth in the G1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) against her own sex at Rosehill in March on a good track.

Aide Memoire is also heading toward the Tattersall’s Tiara.

Karavali (Michael Walker) tackles the $200,000 O’Shea Stakes where she meets Doomben Cup placegetter Egg Tart.

“She is untried at weight-for-age, but has a really good wet track record,” Lees said. “That’s the reason we are having a crack at this race with her.”

Karavali hasn’t raced since finishing eighth to Sedanzer in the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) on May 11 on a good track. She has won up to 2000m.

Envy Of All (Jeff Lloyd) resumed with an excellent fourth to unbeaten In Good Time in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at the Scone carnival on May 12.

She was beaten only a half-length, and her sole win to date (she has been placed five times) from eight starts was on a heavy track at Canterbury 12 months ago.

“Envy Of All was really good first-up, and has trained on well,” Lees said.

Aide Memoire
Aide Memoire Picture: Race Images Photo

At Rosehill Lees will give the unbeaten Brabinger, a brother to Cox Plate winner Shamus Award, his first city start on Saturday.

Brabinger, a 4YO by champion sire Snitzel, has had to overcome serious setbacks just to make it to the racetrack to win both his career starts to date.

Brabinger did not race as a two-year-old and belatedly began his racing career on April 28 when an impressive winner of a 1200m Newcastle Maiden.

He then jumped to Class 2 company and again did the job three weeks later on May 19 over the same course.

“Brabinger was in the 2016 Inglis Easter yearling sale, but x-rays revealed he had a sesamoid fracture,” Lees said.

“He underwent an operation, and then when we gave him his first serious gallop, we found he was ‘gone in the wind’.

“Another operation was required, so the horse has done a terrific job to overcome those setbacks and show the ability he obviously has on the track.

“He has trained on well, so Saturday’s race will give us a better guide on his potential.”

James McDonald will ride Brabinger and stablemate Chalmers, another three-year-old heading to town on the back of a recent tenacious home track victory.

Chalmers overcame an outside barrier and 61.5kg to snare a Benchmark 60 (1500m) on May 19. The form was franked when runner-up Bringagem scored at Gosford on Thusday.

“There’s no reason he shouldn’t run well again despite the rise in class, especially from an inside draw this time,” Lees said.

Lees also runs Princess Posh and Our Gravano at Rosehill.

Princess Posh was a little unlucky last time when third to I Am Serious over this course,” Lees said. “If she can get the right run, she will be in the finish again.”

Our Gravano had his first start for his new trainer when ninth to King Darci in a Benchmark 95 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on May 19.

“He didn’t have any luck having to race wide and still stuck on well. He is down in class but obviously up in weight.”


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