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Dual Acceptor Special Reward might not get a run at Royal Randwick

3 minute read

Kris Lees is so far undecided whether dual acceptor Special Reward will run at all at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer : Kris Lees
Trainer : Kris Lees Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

The talented former West Australian sprinter has already been withdrawn from the feature event, the Group 2 wfa Expressway Stakes (1200m), and is not a certain starter in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m).

"I haven't made up my mind yet whether Special Reward  will line up at the weekend," Lees said this afternoon.

"He has an awkward barrier (12 in a field of 13) in the Benchmark 88.

"I might trial him instead at Gosford next Friday and run him in a fortnight."

Special Reward, now raced by Australian Bloodstock and clients, was an excellent first-up second to Southern Lad in a Benchmark 94 Handicap over the same course on January 11.

He made the running but Southern Lad, who enjoyed a cosy run behind, was able to get him down in the closing stages.

Lees has given Special Reward three weeks to get over his first-up assignment, and says the gelding is in good order.

If he does take his place on Saturday, apprentice Sam Clenton will use her 2kg claim to lessen his weight to 59kg.

Lees has withdrawn dual venue acceptor High Power from a Benchmark 70 Handicap (1900m) at Canterbury tomorrow night to run at Randwick on Saturday.

Clenton also partners him, in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (2000m), and is expected to claim 1.5kg of her 2kg allowance to ride at 56kg.

"High Power was good under a big weight (60.5kg) when third at Canterbury a fortnight ago, but has lost a bit of momentum," Lees said.

"He drew poorly at Canterbury, and in any case I feel the bigger Randwick track and the 2000m will suit him better."

Stablemates Turnberry (Clenton) and Mongolian Wolf (Nash Rawiller) both will contest the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1500m).

"Turnberry's form was good before he failed in the Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Boxing Day," Lees said.

"He has been freshened and is more than capable of running well in this small field.

"Mongolian Wolf is resuming and, whilst he will take improvement from this run, will be getting home well and has won first-up previously."

. With High Power running at Randwick, Lees has only one representative at Canterbury tomorrow night.

The ultra-consistent Lifetime Quest tackles the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m), and Hugh Bowman is back on board.

Bowman rode the Exceed and Excel four-year-old when successful at Warwick Farm last August in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m).

Lifetime Quest has not missed a placing in 10 starts to date, with two wins, seven seconds and a third.

He resumed when narrowly beaten by Aristograts in a deceptive finish to the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m) at Warwick Farm on January 15. He was in front a stride before and stride after the post – but not where it counted.

"Lifetime Quest is in great order, and gets his chance to clinch another win," Lees said.

"From an inside draw, he should be hard to beat."


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