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Gear Changes For Everest Stablemates

3 minute read

Trainer Kris Lees will employ vital gear changes on two of his three runners in Saturday’s $13 million Everest at Randwick.

He has opted to put winkers back on the six-year-old Le Romain while Graff, the youngest of his three starters and the only three-year-old in the select field, will wear ear-muffs to the barrier.

Lees said it was a no brainer to re-introduce winkers to Le Romain.

Le Romain
Le Romain Picture: Racing and Sports

“Le Romain has always raced well in the past when I have put winkers on him,” Lees said.

“As he is coming back to 1200m I’m sure they will help him.”

Le Romain hasn’t raced since finishing a gallant second to Winx in the George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 15.

Lees said the decision to use ear muffs pre-race on Graff is insurance against the colt being unsettled by the big crowd that is expected to be more than 30,000.

“They are simply to keep him quiet and relaxed,” Lees said.

Le Romain, Graff and his other Everest representative In Her Time galloped separately on the Newcastle course proper on Tuesday.

“They are all pretty fit and weren’t out to make time,” Lees said. “I’m very happy with the condition of all three.”

Lees believes Le Romain is capable of an upset win in the Everest due to his superb Randwick record and the expected track conditions that are anticipated to be soft to heavy due to the forecast of showers every day through to Sunday.

Le Romain has had 16 of his 29 career starts at Randwick with the 6YO recording five wins and seven placings at the course including two of his three Group 1 wins.

Over the Randwick 1200m he boasts two wins and three placings from six starts while he has two wins and eight placings from 12 starts on soft and heavy tracks.

Lees will also have three runners – Clearly Innocent, Tactical Advantage and Dal Cielo – in the Everest “consolation”, the $500,000 Sydney Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Saturday is a perfect example of how far Lees has come in training career as he will also have runners in two Group One races in Melbourne on Saturday in the $2 million Caulfield Guineas and $500,000 Thousand Guineas.

Gem Song is his Caulfield Guineas representative while he has the favourite Smart Melody and G1 winner El Dorado Dreaming running in the Thousand Guineas.

The trio worked on the Caulfield course proper on Tuesday.

Smart Melody, who will also parade in ear muffs prior to the Thousand Guineas, worked on her own and was timed to run 1000m in 67.6 seconds with her last 400m in a slick 23.57.

Gem Song and El Dorado Dreaming were sent over 1000m together, clocking 67 flat and coming home the last 400m in 24.76.


Racing and Sports

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