3 minute read
Only a few weeks after his legendary late father Max passed away in August 2003, Kris Lees just missed out winning the Newcastle Gold Cup.
He had taken over his father's stable and Northern Territory-owned My Tally, his first runner in his hometown feature, was narrowly beaten by Comforts in the 2300m event.
Seventeen years and a further seven minor placings later, Lees finally got the monkey off his back yesterday when $2.40 favorite Mugatoo impressively won the Group 3 Gold Cup, setting a modern day weight-carrying record in the process.
Not since 1940 winner Buzalong had a horse carried 59kg to victory in Newcastle's flagship race.
"At first it was relief to finally win the Cup," Lees said this morning.
"But then when it sunk in later, it was a terrific feeling for not only myself, but everyone concerned with the stable and Australian Bloodstock (who had three previous placings in the race) and their owners.
"Mugatoo seems to be getting stronger with each race this preparation."
Whilst Lees reported Mugatoo appeared to have come through yesterday's race well, a start in the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 3 – for which the gelding is a dominant favorite – is now in the hands of the RacingNSW handicapping panel.
"A start in The Metropolitan is definitely not set in concrete," Lees said.
"Mugatoo already has 56kg and I don't think he should be penalised for a Group 3 win going to a Group 1," Lees said.
"We will wait and see what happens before making a decision where we go next with him.
"Mugatoo might even go to Melbourne to run in the Turnbull Stakes the same day as The Metropolitan."
The $500,000 Group 1 Turnbull (2000m) – to be run at set weights plus penalties – is a race Lees previously won with Lucia Valentina in 2014.
Lees also notched another minor Newcastle Cup placing yesterday with Attention Run ($26), who finished a gallant third; with the stablemates split by last year's winner Hush Writer ($5).
His previous Newcastle Cup placegetters after My Tally in 2003 were County Tyrone (3rd in both 2004 and 2008), Exinite (2nd in 2006), Rio Perdido (3rd in 2015), Admiral Jello (3rd in 2017) and Attention Run and Our Candidate (2nd and 3rd respectively last year).
