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Brenton Avdulla will be a new rider for yesterday’s Royal Randwick winner Raheen House when he backs up there in Saturday’s Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
Kris Lees, seeking a second Sydney Cup after scoring with County Tyrone in 2006, this afternoon confirmed the riding switch which was necessary as Hugh Bowman, who partnered the import in his Group 2 Chairman's Quality (2600m) victory, will be serving a suspension and could not ride him anyway at his 54kg.
Under the conditions of the Chairman's, Raheen House became both exempt from a Cup ballot and could not be penalised.
"I expected Raheen House to run well yesterday as he had improved at each of his two runs for us, and his work had been really good leading up to the race," Lees said.
"He has pulled up in good order and deserves his chance in the Cup."
Raheen House is a younger brother to last year's Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh, who also carried the Australian Bloodstock colours and was runner-up to Gallic Chieftain in the Chairman's before successfully backing up a week later.
Raheen House gives Lees a strong hand in the Cup as he joins last year's Ebor Handicap (2787m) winner Mustajeer, who will be ridden by Nash Rawiller.
Mustajeer has been in brilliant form this campaign, and was ridden for the first time by Rawiller at Rosehill Gardens yesterday week when runner-up to Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m).
He carried 59kg then under the weight-for-age conditions, and drops 1.5kg going to the 3200m.
Lees also hopes Saunter Boy (51kg) will make the Cup field when acceptances are taken on Tuesday morning.
Game Of Thorns (Avdulla) will be the stable's sole representative in Saturday's Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m).
The Animal Kingdom filly, after scoring first-up on her home track over 1400m on February 29 with 60.5kg, was an excellent ninth (beaten only 1.6 lengths) to Asiago in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) on March 13.
She then finished fifth to Kembla Classic runner-up Shout The Bar in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill yesterday week.
. In Her Time has pulled up well after finishing eighth at $71 to Nature Strip in yesterday's Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, and may back up on Saturday on Day 2 of The Championships.
"She got tired chasing Nature Strip, and the heavy track worked against her as well," Lees said.
Dual Group 1 winner In Her Time is close to the end of her career, and Lees is considering dropping her back in class and running her against her own sex on Saturday in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m), at set weights plus penalties.
