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Kris Lees considers Special Reward can tomorrow cope with his first essay beyond 1400m and clinch Newcastle’s feature sprint double this year.
The talented former West Australian sprinter will be one of Lees' trio of representatives in the Group 3 Australian Bloodstock Cameron Handicap (1500m).
He also runs Chief Ironside and Miss Fabulass, but is keeping multiple Group 1 winner and topweight Le Romain for Saturday's Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick.
Special Reward in March won Newcastle's major autumn sprint, the Group 3 Newmarket Handicap at 1400m – a distance at which he has raced only twice (finishing second in the other as a two-year-old in Perth in June, 2018).
The now five-year-old, who has built a splendid record of eight wins and three placings from 16 starts, didn't have the best of luck in the straight when fourth (beaten 1.6 lengths) to Wild Planet in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday.
That was only his second start this campaign, and his trainer hasn't hesitated to back him up tomorrow.
"All the indications are that Special Reward has come through that race well," Lees said this afternoon.
"He is in really good order.
"As for stretching out to 1500m, I feel he will cope with the extra distance, especially as he should get a nice run from a favourable draw.
"He has to be my pick of the three as he is such an honest horse, as his record indicates."
Nash Rawiller rode Special Reward for the first time last Saturday, and partners him again tomorrow.
James McDonald rides Chief Ironside, and Glen Boss has the mount on Miss Fabulass.
Blinkers come off Chief Ironside, whilst a tongue tie goes back on Miss Fabulass.
"Chief Ironside has had two nice recent trials, and is coming up well," Lees said.
"Being a six-year-old stallion, no doubt he will take improvement from this run.
"Miss Fabulass has the ability and this is a race she is definitely capable of winning."
Lees won the 2009 Cameron with Absolutelyfabulous, and has since had a string of placings in Newcastle's feature spring sprint.
He ran third with Kaunda in 2011, and second with Le Romain (2016), Sound Proposition (2017) and Articus last year.
. Lees was understandably disappointed with Mustajeer's outside draw in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
"He comes in well with 55kg under the conditions (set weights and penalties), but is going to be giving them a decent start," he said.
"The Bill Ritchie also looks a tough race, but Le Romain (Hugh Bowman) is going well and has a place chance at least."
Lees will run Miss Canada (Brenton Avdulla) and Fall On A Star (Jason Collett) in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).
He withdrew the latter from a Maiden Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle tomorrow to tackle black type company.
"Miss Canada is holding her own in these races in Sydney, whilst Fall On A Star will appreciate the 1400m, but is obviously up in class," Lees said.
Tactical Advantage (Collett) resumes in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) against The Everest hope Classique Legend and a number of possible candidates for the $15m race at Randwick in mid-October, and boasts an excellent fresh record.
From seven first-up assignments, he has won twice and been placed on three occasions.
He also races well at headquarters, having won three of his nine starts at Randwick.
"It won't be an easy race to win, but I'm confident he will run well," Lees said.
Animate (Tommy Berry), Occupy (apprentice Louise Day) and Spanish Point (Jim Byrne) will represent the stable in the Randwick closer, the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).
"They will all get back and be given the chance to finish off," Lees said.
