3 minute read

Kris Lees’ current focus is on the Magic Millions sales at the Gold Coast – but Royal Randwick will be firmly on his radar tomorrow.

Though he has only limited representation at the Millions meeting at the Coast, it's the exact opposite with a strong team heading to the corresponding Randwick fixture.

Lees initially had nine acceptors and will have six starters.

Dual acceptor Asharani  will run in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) against her own sex rather than the stronger Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m).

The last start Randwick winner will be his sole representative in the Benchmark 78 as stablemate Bellaria ran at Doomben yesterday.

Itz Lily is out of the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m) and has been sent to Queensland to contest the Magic Millions Open Quality (1800m), with Andrew Mallyon her rider.

Her withdrawal leaves Lees with Summer Provincial Series Final winner Occupy (apprentice Sam Clenton) and High Power (Aaron Bullock) as his representatives in the Randwick event.

"We've got a strong team going to Randwick with a number of excellent chances," stable spokesman Cameren Swan, who will be in charge at the meeting, said this morning.

"Hopefully, we can come home with some good results."

As well as Asharani, Occupy and High Power, Lees runs Witherspoon (1000m Benchmark 74 Handicap for three and four-year-olds), Special Reward (1200m Benchmark 94 Handicap) and Mr Garcia (2000m Listed January Cup).

Clenton also uses her 2kg claim on Witherspoon (58.5kg to 56.5kg), Bullock partners Special Reward and Andrew Gibbons rides Mr Garcia.

The rail is out 11m from the 1600m to the winning post, and 8m for the remainder of the circuit.

Witherspoon, Mr Garcia and Asharani all were acceptors for the Kensington meeting last Saturday, but Lees decided to wait a week with them.

Having been purchased by Australian Bloodstock, Witherspoon made a successful debut for the stable when successful in a Benchmark 70 Handicap (1000m) on the Kensington track on December 6.

"She never gave her opposition a chance that day in leading throughout, and whilst this is obviously a stronger race, there's no reason why she won't be hard to beat again," Swan said.

"The other favoured runners Splintex and Aquitaine are drawn outside her."

This race almost certainly will be reduced to seven starters, with Aquitaine's stablemate Tailleur making her debut at Gosford today.

"Special Reward has trialled really well and has the advantage of a rails draw in the Benchmark 94," Swan said.

The former West Australian sprinter, who has won six of his 11 starts to date, finished sixth in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 2 at his debut for his new stable.

He began awkwardly that day, and yet was beaten only two lengths.

"Kris has taken the blinkers off him, and his two recent trial wins at Wyong (December 20) and on the Beaumont track (December 30) have been impressive," Swan said.

"Aaron (Bullock) knows the horse well as he rode him in both trials.

"Even though it's a small field (seven runners), this is a really good race.

"Special Reward is in good order and is ready to reproduce his best form."

Asharani is out to make it two wins in a row, having finished strongly to land a similar race against her own sex over 1400m at Randwick on December 21.

"Kris had this race tomorrow picked out, and decided to wait rather than run her last Saturday on the inside track at Randwick," Swan explained.

"She has trained on well and, with Sam's claim, carries the same weight as she did in her recent victory.

"Mr Garcia was good in finishing third to Occupy in the Summer Provincial Series Final at Gosford, is getting to a more suitable distance and is fitter for three runs back.

"Occupy looks to be the pick of our two runners in the Benchmark 78, although High Power is definitely not out of contention.

"Occupy backed up his Hawkesbury win on resumption with an even better performance to take the Summer Provincial Final, and the 1800m suits nicely at his third run back.

"High Power won his heat of the series first-up at Newcastle, and his ninth in the Final can be excused.

"He drew the outside barrier and didn't get a lot of room in the straight."

. Itz Lily has raced well at both runs since resuming, and has an each-way chance in the $250,000 MM Quality (1800m).

Lees' other Coast runner, Fuji Fury (Mallyon) is one of the outsiders for the $1m MM Trophy (2400m).

. Lees has nominated three horses for the $5m All-Star Mile to be run at Caulfield on March 14.

They are his recent acquisitions, imports Danceteria and Chief Ironside (both raced by Australian Bloodstock) and the John Singleton-owned blueblood Miss Fabulass.

Danceteria, a five-year-old son of Redoute's Choice, was a Group 1 winner over 2000m in Germany last July before failing in star Japanese mare Lys Gracieux's Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in October, whilst Chief Ironside won the Group 2 Crystal Mile at that meeting.

Miss Fabulass, winner of the Listed Tatts Classic (1200m) against her own sex at Doomben in November, was a gallant second to Deep Image (contesting tomorrow's 1400m Magic Millions Cup) in The Buffering (1400m) at Eagle Farm on December 28.

Public voting for 10 places in the field of 15 begins next Thursday and closes on February 16.