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Kris Lees has weight in numbers in Friday’s $150,000 final of the inaugural Summer Provincial Series (1600m) at Gosford.
He has almost half the field of 15 with six runners – and a possible seventh with second emergency Warset waiting in the wings.
Lees will be represented by Cullingworth (Nash Rawiller), High Power (Aaron Bullock), Itz Lily (Andrew Gibbons), Kedah (Brenton Avdulla), Mr Garcia (Hugh Bowman) and Occupy (Sam Clenton).
The first three placegetters in each of the five provincial heats qualified for the final, with fourth placegetters named as reserves.
High Power (Newcastle) and Occupy (Hawkesbury) won their respective heats.
Though naturally finding it difficult to name a standout with so many representatives, Lees felt both Occupy and Mr Garcia had strong prospects.
"Both have drawn well enough (Mr Garcia has No 2 alley and Occupy No 7), and that boosts their chances," Lees said this afternoon.
"But it shapes as a very open race.
"Mr Garcia is getting fitter and Occupy has taken improvement from his first-up success at Hawkesbury.
"He won second-up at the Scone carnival in May at his last preparation."
The Spring Provincial Series (won by Bobbing) was run for the first time last year, and was moved back to summer this year.
. Lees has not yet decided whether to run Turnberry in Thursday's Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick or wait for the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1600m) there on Saturday.
Turnberry has been a model of consistency, having been placed at his last three starts, and is certainly deserving of a breakthrough.
Jay Ford has been booked for the gelding in the Summer Cup, where he has the minimum 54kg, and 2kg claimer Sam Clenton will lessen his 60kg if the Saturday race is chosen.
"Turnberry is going really well and is a close to another win," Lees said. "I'm sure he will be hard to beat in whichever race he runs in."
Unraced Invincible Jewel (James Innes Jnr) won't line up in the 2YO Handicap (1100m), but Continuation (Clenton) definitely runs in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (2400m) in spite of a wide draw.
"Continuation is in good form this campaign, but needs a bit of luck from his draw to make his presence felt again," Lees said.
He is confident Alam Mo Na (Andrew Mallyon) will be hard to beat at the Sunshine Coast on Thursday in the Class 1 Plate (2200m).
"She had no luck when fourth at Doomben last time," Lees said. "This is a winnable race."
Lees has Gaelic Dream (Aaron Bullock) in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m) against her own sex and Vecchietta (Andrew Gibbons) in the Maiden Handicap (1200m) at the Boxing Day fixture on the Beaumont track.
"Gaelic Dream is going okay and fitter for two runs this preparation and not without a chance," Lees said.
"Vecchietta was placed at Coffs Harbour on debut and, whilst this is harder, she has drawn the inside and has to be given a good show."
