3 minute read

Alam Mo Na’s hollow victory at the Sunshine Coast yesterday has forced a rethink of plans.

The beautifully-bred four-year-old mare was responsible for the easiest win of the day when she romped home by more than five lengths – and it could have been double – in the Class 1 Plate (2200m), with Andrew Mallyon aboard.

"Before yesterday's race, I was intending to give her a break," Kris Lees said this morning.

"But on the strength of that win, I'm probably now going to have to give her the chance to win a Saturday race in town.

"I know the class wasn't strong, but she could not have been any more impressive and had plenty on her rivals."

Alam Mo Na , translated from Filipino to English, means "you know already".

The daughter of High Chaparral and Queen of the Hill was bred and is raced by Gooree Stud, and was having only her 10th start yesterday.

Alam Mo Na is the fifth foal of the Danehill mare Queen of the Hill, who won five (all in Melbourne, including the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington as a two-year-old on debut) of her 14 starts for trainer Lee Freedman, now based in Singapore.

"As with the High Chaparrals, Alam Mo Na has been a slow maturer," Lees said.

"She didn't start as a two-year-old and in fact didn't have her first start until March this year when placed at Scone over 1300m."

Alam Mo Na was placed at her first three starts and didn't break through until Taree on December 2 at her eighth start when an easy winner of a Class 1/Maiden Plate (2018m) as an odds-on favorite.

. With no NSW provincial meeting tomorrow, Scone takes centre stage and Lees has five acceptors.

He runs Azarmin (Benchmark 58 Handicap, 1600m), Elas Jet (Class 1/Maiden Plate, 2200m), Hibern (Maiden Plate, 1300m) and Siesta Key and Andaluna in the Class 1 Handicap, 1300m.

There are already five withdrawals from the latter race, and Lees considers Siesta Kay (Aaron Bullock) may be his best prospect.

A three-year-old daughter of So You Think, Siesta Key has raced only three times (for a Coffs Harbour win in June on debut).

She was beaten first-up at Quirindi on November 24 in a Class 1 Handicap (1000m), but was slowly away and then bumped soon after the start.

Before resuming, Siesta Key won a Beaumont trial (1000m) on November 11, beating stablemates Mr Garcia and High Power, both of whom line up in today's Summer Provincial Series Final (1600m) at Gosford.