3 minute read
Talented mare ZANIAH represents quality but Kris Lees says he can make a case for each of his three “girls” in Saturday’s Benchmark 78 Handicap at Royal Randwick.
Zaniah , who races in the Lucia Valentina colours of New Zealand owner Lib Petagna and is unbeaten in two first-up assignments for Lees, resumes in the 1000m dash and will have company in the form of stablemates Witherspoon and Longbottom.
Brenton Avdulla rides Zaniah, Hugh Bowman is on Witherspoon (with stable apprentice Louise Day currently serving a suspension) and James McDonald has the Longbottom mount.
"I'm not totally comfortable running Zaniah first-up on a heavy track, but she has to get up and going, and she has only 54.5kg," Lees said this afternoon.
"There's no doubt she is the quality horse of my three.
"She has always shown above average ability, but has had a lot of issues (she has undergone epiglottic entrapment surgery since last racing at Canterbury on January 3).
"Zaniah handled the soft ground at home last week when she easily won an 800m trial.
"With Witherspoon and Longbottom you know what you are going to get.
"Witherspoon likes the wet and is going to take catching again, whilst Longbottom gets back but will be charging late.
"I can make a case for each of them."
Zaniah, a four-year-old daughter of Zoustar, had three unplaced runs in New Zealand in 2018 before joining Lees' team.
She has had five starts for him for three wins (one in town) and two city placings.
Witherspoon relished the heavy ground over the Randwick 1000m on May 23 and trounced her rivals. She carried 53.5kg then after Day's allowance and rises 6kg.
Longbottom was responsible for an excellent performance when third in Witherspoon's race and now meets her stablemate 5.5kg better (with McDonald expected to ride her 0.5kg over).
Lees has four other Randwick runners; Korcho (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 2000m), Stella Sea Sun (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1200m against her own sex), My Swashbuckler (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1600m) and Juventus (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1400m).
Blinkers come off Stella Sea Sun and ear muffs go on My Swashbuckler.
Bowman partners import Korcho, who is having his second start for Lees, and Juventus, whilst Jason Collett rides Stella Sea Sun and Glen Boss rides My Swashbuckler.
"I thought Korcho ran well first-up on the Kensington track last month and he has had a nice trial at home since," Lees said.
"He may just want this one more run but is going well.
"Stella Sea Sun is back after a break and handles the wet ground. She can definitely run well.
"I have decided to put the ear muffs on My Swashbuckler to help him relax. If he does that, he can cause a surprise.
"Juventus is in good form and has held his condition. He looks to be a strong each-way chance."
