3 minute read
Talented sprinter Tactical Advantage will still run at Eagle Farm on Saturday even if he misses out on a Stradbroke Handicap start.
Trainer Kris Lees plans to accept with the gelding in both the $1.5 million Stradbroke (1400m) and the Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m) where he has been given the topoweight of 59.5kg.
Tactical Advantage has only 53kg in the Stradbroke and is expected to be first emergency when final acceptances are declared on Wednesday.
“Obviously, I’d like to give him his chance in another Group 1,” Lees said.
“Brenton Avdulla will ride him, but if he doesn’t get a start he will run in the Hinkler.”
The Hinkler may be a race of considerably less prizemoney ($125,000) but is shaping as one of most interesting on the program as a consolation for horses missing a Stradbroke start.
They include Victorem (57.5kg), the exciting Noble Boy (54kg) and brilliant last start Randwick winner Deprive (54kg).
Lees has a definite Stradbroke representative in Princess Posh (52kg), whom Larry Cassidy will ride.
He says the mare has trained on well since her excellent second to Stradbroke favorite The Bostonian in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 25.
Princess Posh meets her conqueror 3kg better for being beaten less than a length.
Lees will accept with four three-year-olds – Aliferous, Grand Bouquet, Itz Lily and Fuji Fury – in Saturday’s $600,000 Queensland Derby (2400m).
The fillies Aliferous and Grand Bouquet will make the field, but at this stage there is no guarantee the other pair will gain a start.
Aliferous (fifth) had no luck in last Saturday’s G1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) on the smaller Doomben circuit.
China Horse Club’s Savabeel filly Grand Bouquet missed out on an Oaks berth, and instead carried 59kg to win over 1800m at the Gold Coast last Saturday, making it two on end at that track over the same distance.
Big Duke (57.5kg) and Sixties Groove (56.5kg) will back up in the $400,000 Brisbane Cup (2400m), returning to handicap conditions from last Saturday’s PJ O’Shea Stakes.
Sixties Groove has been placed at all three starts since joining Lees’ team, the latest a strong-finishing second to Doomben Cup winner Kenedna in the O’Shea Stakes (2200m) at Doomben.
Pecans (58kg) will have her second start for the Lees stable in the $200,000 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) against her own sex.
Now raced by Australian Bloodstock and clients, she ran a solid sixth to Renewal over 1400m at Randwick on May 25.
Rain in Sydney has influenced Lees to keep Asharani at home for a Benchmark 76 Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday instead of lining up in the $350,000 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
