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Lees Has A Tactical Edge At Rosehill

3 minute read

Trainer Kris Lees says he will know how good his recent recruit Tactical Advantage is after he races at Rosehill on Saturday.

An impressive first-up winner in the July Sprint (1100m) at Randwick three weeks ago at his debut for the stable, the five-year-old has to carry 61kg in Saturday’s Campbelltown Catholic Club Handicap (1100m) where he is the joint topweight with stablemate Dal Cielo.

Tactical Advantage beat Dal Cielo comfortably last time at Randwick but faces a hefty 7kg rise on his winning weight – a point Lees readily acknowledges.

Picture: Racing and Sports

“It’s a good leveller having to carry such a big weight,” he said. “If he can win again with 61kg, we will certainly have to look at some better races in the spring.”

Lees also accepted with Tactical Advantage at Doomben but a good draw influenced him target the Rosehill race.

“Tactical Advantage has trained on well, and the Brisbane race was definitely the softer option,” he said.

“I decided to go to Rosehill when he drew well there.”

Tactical Advantage joined the Lees stable after he was purchased by Australian Bloodstock and syndicated amongst clients after finishing sixth in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) on a heavy Rosehill surface on December 2.

He will be ridden by Hugh Bowman while Lees’ main provincial jockey Aaron Bullock again partners Dal Cielo, who meets his stablemate 2.5kg from their clash in the July Sprint when beaten 2.3 lengths.

Lees also runs Prized Icon and Admiral Jello at Rosehill.

He has removed the blinkers from dual G1 winner Prized Icon for his resumption in the Spring Preview Handicap (1400m) where Lees has taken advantage of Kiwi apprentice Sam Weatherley’s 2kg allowance to lessen his impost.

Lees has taken a line through Prized Icon’s placing first-up over 1400m in January to give him a solid chance even though he knows he will take improvement from this assignment.

“He split Lanciato (subsequent Newcastle Newmarket winner) and Endless Drama (subsequent Apollo Stakes winner) in the Carrington Stakes at Rosehill at his first run for us,” he said.

“If he can repeat that performance, he is going to be right in the finish.

“Prized Icon has had two trials and is fit enough to resume but he will certainly be better for the outing.”

Blake Shinn rides Admiral Jello in the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) where the gelding has to overcome the outside barrier at his second run this campaign.

Lees hopes to strike another interstate blow with Tawfiq Boy at Doomben on Saturday.

Tawfiq Boy will carry the Australian Bloodstock colours in the Eaton Services Group Plate (1050m) where he has drawn well in barrier 2 as the rail is out 7.5 metres.

Though yet to win first-up, the five-year-old has been placed on all three occasions and has been fitted by two recent trials, the latest a second to Table Mountain over 1000m at Muswellbrook last Sunday.

“Tawfiq Boy is very consistent and this looks a suitable race for him to begin another preparation,” Lees said.

“Thankfully, he’s drawn a soft gate with the rail out so far.”

Tawfiq Boy, a son of I Am Invincible, has raced 15 times for three wins and nine placings.
Racing and Sports

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