3 minute read

Kris Lees has made important gear changes on both his runners Chief Ironside and Graff in tomorrow’s Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

Blinkers go on Chief Ironside  (Corey Bayliss) in the Group 1 sprint, whilst blinkers and a tongue tie come off Graff  (Sean Cormack), who instead will race in a standard bit for the first time.

Explaining the changes this morning, Lees said he considered blinkers would help Australian Bloodstock import Chief Ironside as he is coming back from the 1600m of the Scone Cup last month when a close fourth to Dr Drill after looking a likely winner 200m out.

"There doesn't appear to be a lot of pace in the Stradbroke and Chief Ironside will roll forward," Lees said.

"He was up on the pace when he won the Group 2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley last spring, and has trained on well since Scone.

"With Graff, I'm playing around with his gear to try to find the right formula and he worked well without the blinkers and tongue tie at the Gold Coast on Tuesday morning.

"We've mixed up his environment by sending him to the Aquis Training Centre at Canungra for a week and he has been at our Gold Coast base this week.

"We know Graff has the ability to win a race such as this, and he should get a nice run from an inside draw."

Lees' third acceptor, fifth emergency Delectation Girl, is highly unlikely to secure a Stradbroke start but has been sent to the Gold Coast just in case.

If she misses out, she will be nominated for both the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) against her own sex and Group 3 Eagle Farm Mile tomorrow week.

High Power (Andrew Mallyon) is Lees' other Stradbroke day representative, in the Class 6 Plate (1815m).

"He has drawn well enough at the 1800m start, and is not without a chance in an open race," he said.

The rail is in the TRUE position for the Stradbroke meeting, and a "Good 4" rating has been posted.