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Conditions look ideal for Australian Bloodstock import

3 minute read

Kris Lees says Mustajeer is well placed under the conditions at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, and gets his chance to further boost his Tancred Stakes stocks.

MUSTAJEER winning the Parramatta Cup (LR).
MUSTAJEER winning the Parramatta Cup (LR). Picture: Steve Hart

An impressive first-up winner of the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) at the same track on February 22 with 60.5kg, the Australian Bloodstock import tumbles 5.5kg in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) because of the set weights and penalties, resulting in him carrying only 1kg above the limit.

High Bowman rode Mustajeer at his resumption, but will be at Caulfield on Saturday and Kerrin McEvoy takes over.

McEvoy got a "feel" of the former Irish stayer during an exhibition gallop between races at last Friday's Newcastle Newmarket meeting.

"Mustajeer  is in good order, and certainly comes in well at the weights," Lees said this afternoon.

"There's no apparent reason why he won't run well again.

"The only slight negative might be that he now is looking for longer than the 2000m."

This will be Mustajeer's final lead-up to the $1.5m Group 1 wfa Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on March 28.

At this stage, Lees has listed the gelding as "unlikely" to proceed to the $2m Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.

Stablemates Danceteria  (Josh Parr) and Attention Run (Andrew Mallyon), also amongst the Australian Bloodstock team, will join Mustajeer in the Sky High.

"Danceteria didn't do enough first-up in the Chipping Norton Stakes at 1600m, but is a genuine 2000m horse and may even want 2400m," Lees said.

"I'm putting blinkers back on Attention Run and taking winkers off.

"She needs to put herself into the race, and we will be able to do that from a favourable draw."

Mallyon will ride Attention Run 1kg over at 54kg.

Lees has four runners – Invincible Gem (Rachel King), El Dorado Dreaming (Jason Collett), Delectation Girl (Mallyon) and Miss Fabulass (Kerrin McEvoy) – in the $600,000 Group 1 Coolmore Claasic (1500m) for the "girls".

El Dorado Dreaming  third-up was runner-up to Dixie Blossoms in last year's Coolmore.

"All four have place chances and it wouldn't surprise if any of them won either," Lees said. "It doesn't appear to be a vintage Coolmore this year."

Lees has opted to put a tongue tie on El Dorado Dreaming on the recommendation of jockey Brenton Avdulla, who rode her when she failed first-up in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick on February 29.

"She has had a throat issue in the past, and Brenton felt she was playing around with her tongue in the Randwick race," he explained.

Lees runs Fall On A Star  (Michael Walker) in the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) against her own sex, and says he won't be surprised if she springs an upset from her rails draw.

The Zoustar filly easily won a Newcastle trial (800m) on January 29 before her first-up eighth to Supreme Idea in the Listed Lonhro Plate (1000m) at Randwick on February 15.

Tactical Advantage (Nash Rawiller) puts his excellent first-up record on the line when he resumes in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m).

From six first-up appearances, he has won twice and been placed on three occasions, and is also a winner three times on soft ground.

"The race looks to set up nicely for him," Lees said. "He can be competitive for sure, but with 59kg topweight can't afford to put a foot wrong."


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