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Career milestone looming large for Kris Lees

3 minute read

On the verge of a career tally of 1900 winners, Kris Lees has confirmed plans for dual venue acceptors Da Power, Designer Maid and Hallelujah Boy at the weekend.

Trainer: KRIS LEES
Trainer: KRIS LEES Picture: Racing and Sports

Lees scored with Mummentum at Grafton today before heavy rain forced an abandonment after five races had been run, taking him to 1898, including 108 so far this season.

Da Power  will run at Canterbury tomorrow night rather than Saturday's transferred Newcastle meeting from Kembla Grange, Designer Maid  will be the opposite by lining up at Newcastle instead of Canterbury, whilst Hallelujah Boy  is staying at home to compete at Warwick Farm on Saturday instead of heading north for the corresponding Eagle Farm fixture.

Additionally, Lees has listed smart filly Regimental Band as a very unlikely runner in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm.

"I won't risk her first-up on what looks like being a heavy track," he said this afternoon.

On the other hand, he is looking forward to taking Stella Sea Sun (apprentice Sam Clenton) to Warwick Farm for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m) for mares four-year-old and upwards.

Clenton's city claim has now been reduced to 1.5kg, lessening the consistent mare's weight to 58.5kg.

"Stella Sea Sun loves wet ground and should be hard to beat," Lees said.

A Redoute's Choice four-year-old, Stella Sea Sun has won five races and been placed as many times from 12 starts, and has never finished further back than fourth

Fall On A Star (Tommy Berry) and Snitzari (Rachel King) contest the Listed Lonhro Plate (1000m), with blinkers on the former and the latter making her debut.

"They are both nice fillies," Lees said. "Fall On A Star (by Zoustar) ran sixth in the Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick last October at her only start, and easily won a trial at home on January 29 wearing blinkers.

"Snitzari (by Snitzel) also trialled well in winning a Wyong trial on January 13 (Fall On A Star ran third in that trial before blinkers went on at Newcastle)."

Hallelujah Boy (Clenton) and Attention Run (apprentice Robbie Dolan) begin new campaigns in the Bowness Stud Mile (1600m).

"Hallelujah Boy is at his best on wet ground, but this won't be an easy race to win, whilst Attention Run won on a heavy surface at Randwick last July at her first Australian start and did a good job during that preparation, including a Newcastle Cup second," Lees said.

"She could be a Sydney Cup prospect."

. Clenton will ride High Power (Benchmark 70 Handicap, 1900m) and Tim Clark partners Da Power (Benchmark 70 Handicap, 1550m) at Canterbury tomorrow night.

"High Power has plenty of weight (61kg), but his last run was good and he has a soft draw again, whilst Da Power was good first-up at Port Macquarie before being declared a non-runner last time at Tamworth (January 23).

"He is going allright."

. Snowzone (Andrew Mallyon) is chasing his third win from four starts this campaign in the 3YO Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

"He has shown ability right from the start, but it looks as though gelding him has certainly made a difference," Lees said.

"He scored easily at Doomben last start and should be hard to beat again, especially from an inside draw."

Mallyon also rides Mill City (Class 3 Handicap, 1840m), and Lees feels she is capable of a good performance.

. Lees runs Sending Love (900m Maiden Plate), Designer Maid (900m Benchmark 64 Handicap) and Enchanted Heart (1200m Class 2 Handicap) at Newcastle, and feels the latter has an excellent chance if she can have some luck from an awkward draw with the rail 8m out.

With Andrew Gibbons taking a TAB Highway booking at Warwick Farm (when the provincial meeting was originally scheduled for Kembla Grange), Jeff Penza will ride Sending Love and Enchanted Heart.

He won the Newcastle heat of the 2018 Provincial Championships on Princess Posh for Lees.

Stable apprentice Louise Day partners Designer Maid, who also has to overcome a wide gate.


Racing and Sports

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