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Kris Lees is waiting until the 11th hour to try to clinch a Magic Millions 2YO Classic spot with Married To The Mob.
The lightly-raced Foxwedge colt will make a last-ditch bid at the Gold Coast on January 4 to sneak into the field for the $2m feature there a week later.
He will contest the Gold Nugget (1100m) for colts and geldings, with the winner earning $72,500.
If successful, that would add to the $14,350 he earned at his only start to date when runner-up to Rothfire over 1000m at Eagle Farm on November 2, certainly enough to secure a spot in the January 11 line-up.
Raced by a syndicate which includes former leading Melbourne jockey Simon Marshall, Married To The Mob trialled at Doomben two days ago, finishing a close third to Ready For Magic over 840m.
"Married To The Mob is not the most brilliant two-year-old," Lees said today.
"But he is very tradesmanlike and does everything right.
"He deserves the chance to try to win a place in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic field."
Lees was delighted to get a quick breakthrough with regally-bred Geo on the Kensington track yesterday at only his second start, and is confident the Medaglia D'Oro three-year-old out of his former champion mare Samantha Miss is set for a bright future.
"He is a nice horse and will continue to improve with more experience," Lees said.
"We haven't rushed him and, provided he continues to do well, will have another run in the coming weeks."
Geo's older half-sister Miss Fabulass (by Frankel) disappointed at Eagle Farm last Saturday in the open company Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1300m) when only eighth to Dark Image after giving away a tidy start.
"It was always going to be a tough assignment once she settled a clear last, but I was still a bit disappointed with her finishing effort," Lees said.
"She has remained at our Gold Coast stable, and we will make a decision around the middle of next week whether to continue with her current preparation."
The Lough Neagh performance was in stark contrast to Miss Fabulass' previous effort when she overpowered her own sex to score brilliantly in the Listed Tatts Classic (1200m) at Doomben on November 23.
Former Irish stayer Mustajeer is getting accustomed to his new surroundings at Lees' Broadmeadow stables.
Mustajeer, who won the Ebor Handicap (2787m) at York in late August before coming to Australia, ran well below his best when second last in Vow And Declare's Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.
"He had a break after the Cup, and we'll get him ready for the Sydney autumn and Brisbane in the winter," Lees said.
