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English sensation Tom Marquand will have his first ride for Kris Lees at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Because of a suspension, Marquand missed the opening day of The Championships yesterday and Lees has happily included him amongst his riders for his five runners in the $400,000 Provincial Championships Final (1400m).
He has booked Marquand for improving three-year-old Animate, who forced his way into the 15-horse Final by winning the $150,000 Wyong Qualifier (1350m), which was transferred to Newcastle last Tuesday.
"Tom has never ridden a horse for me previously, and this was a good opportunity to get him on board," Lees said this afternoon.
A $115,000 yearling purchase in 2018 by Australian Bloodstock, Animate has now won three races on end and four from only six starts.
Brenton Avdulla will ride Asharani i, Glyn Schofield is on Stella Sea Sun, Nash Rawiller partners Great Danger and Jason Collett has the mount on Enchanted Heart.
Asharani dominates the current Provincial Final market at $4.50, with Animate now on the second line of betting at $7.
Stella Sea Sun is at $11, and Great Danger and Enchanted Heart each are $15 chances.
Lees has won two of the five Provincial Finals since the series was launched in 2015. He scored with Danish Twist in 2016 and Serene Miss in 2018.
. Lees broke new ground when he won today's Wellington Boot Showcase (1100m) with his first ever starter in the feature juvenile country race, which carried a record $200,000 purse.
Australian Bloodstock filly Zeftabrook (Chad Lever) justified her $1.70 favoritism by defeating Girls Kick On ($21) and Lady Of Luxury ($11) in an all female finish.
A $190,000 yearling purchase at the Gold Coast last year, the Hinchinbrook youngster is the sixth foal of the Viscount mare Magic Zefta, who raced only four times and was retired to stud as a maiden after three NSW provincial seconds.
Zeftabrook was floated to Wellington early this morning, and returned to her Newcastle stable this evening, having now won two of her three starts.
Lees is undecided about immediate plans for the filly. "She would have to do really well this week to consider backing her up in the Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) against her own sex at Randwick on Saturday, but it's unlikely," he said.
