3 minute read

Trainer Kris Lees is torn between races in Sydney and Brisbane for talented sprinter Tactical Advantage this weekend.

Lees said last start Randwick winner Tactical Advantage is likely to be a dual acceptor at both Rosehill and Doomben before he confirms where he heads with his recent acquisition.

Lees has nominated the gelding for a Benchmark 94 (1100m) at Rosehill and a Class 6 Plate (1200m) at Doomben.

“I’ll have a look at the weights and nominations and probably accept in both before deciding where we go,” Lees said.

Tactical Advantage created a big impression at his debut for Lees when he bolted away with the July Sprint (1100m) at Randwick on July 21, beating stablemate Dal Cielo.

Previously trained by James Cummings, he joined the Lees stable after he was purchased from previous owners Gooree Stud by Australian Bloodstock and syndicated amongst clients.

Now a five-year-old, Tactical Advantage has won six of his 14 starts with five placings.

He has raced only twice at Rosehill for an easy 3YO victory over 1100m and a photo-finish second to Glenall in a Benchmark 96 over the same distance last spring.

Irrespective of where Tactical Advantage races, stablemate Dal Cielo will line up at Rosehill in the Benchmark 94.

“His run was excellent even though beaten comfortably by Tactical Advantage at Randwick and he has done well since,” Lees said.

Multiple Group One winner Prized Icon and Admiral Jello will be other Rosehill runners for the stable on Saturday.

Prized Icon resumes in the Spring Preview Handicap (1400m) where he shares the 61kg topweight with Libran.

The winner of the 2016 Champagne Stakes and Victoria Derby when trained by James Cummings has trialled twice in preparation for his resumption.

Prized Icon ran third in a 900m trial at Newcastle on July 12, and then beat five rivals in a 1000m trial on the Beaumont track 15 days later.

Admiral Jello runs in the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) as he takes another step towards the feature Wyong and Newcastle Cups in coming weeks.

The six-year-old resumed in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill on July 28, and will find Saturday’s extra distance more to his liking.

Admiral Jello ran third in last year’s Taree Cup (2000m) with 60kg and subsequently filled the same placing in the G3 Newcastle Cup before finishing second in the G3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill.

He also ran third in the Listed City Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Randwick and earlier this year was a luckless second in the Listed Canberra Cup (2000m).