3 minute read
Kris Lees has stressed The Bopper’s return Rosehill Gardens assignment tomorrow is not his “grand final”.
But he still expects the much hyped young sprinter will be hard to beat in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1100m).
Beaten only once from four starts to date, the three-year-old is a dominant favorite as he takes on older horses at his first start since easily defeating his own age in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in late October.
Lees has set The Bopper for the $1m Inglis Sprint over the Crowley course at Randwick – also against his own age – on February 6 and tomorrow's race will tune him up for a tilt at that rich purse restricted to Inglis sale graduates.
The Bopper was a $30,000 purchase at the 2019 Inglis Scone yearling sale and has already returned $227,920.
The Bopper has trialled once when a close second in a 1000m Wyong heat on January 7, and his trainer is not concerned he is resuming without a second trial.
"I'm not worried about that at all," Lees said this morning from the Gold Coast, where he is attending the Magic Millions yearling sales.
"The Bopper had only a couple of weeks off after winning at Randwick in October, so he's pretty forward," he said.
"He is short enough (a reference to his pre-post odds) tomorrow, and naturally will take improvement from this run heading into the Inglis Sprint in three weeks' time.
"But he keeps taking the next step and has quickly shown he is a winner. I'm very happy with him and am confident he will run well."
Rachel King rides The Bopper, and Jason Collett partners stablemate Cristal Breeze, who is also resuming in the same race minus blinkers.
"Cristal Breeze will need the run, and the 1100m is a bit short for him," Lees said. "But he is in for a good preparation."
The import, who won two of his first four Australian starts for Lees and was placed in the other two, is being set for the Provincial Championships, with Newcastle to kick off the annual series with a $150,000 Class 5 Qualifier (1400m) at set weights on February 27.
Lees also runs Spanish Point (Collett) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (2000m) and the rapidly improving Never Talk (Sam Clipperton) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) at the Rosehill meeting.
Spanish Point was an excellent second to stablemate Itz Lily in the Summer Provincial Series Final (1600m) on a heavy Wyong track on January 3.
"His run at Wyong was good, and he is ready now for the 2000m," Lees said.
Like The Bopper, Never Talk has had her colors lowered once once, winning five of her six starts, including a powerful Kensington 1100m victory on January 2.
"It's hard to fault her form," Lees said. "It's just whether she is better at Randwick (where her two city wins have been achieved).
"But she is doing everything right so far."
. Lees has four runners at the Magic Millions meeting at the Gold Coast, including Redoute's Image (Andrew Mallyon) in the $2m 3YO Guineas (1400m).
The Australian Bloodstock-raced filly was first emergency, but the withdrawals of Smart'N'Sexy and Lady Banff pole vaulted her into the field.
"Redoute's Image ran well when third to Stolen Jade at the Coast last Saturday, and deserves her chance to contest a $2m race," Lees said.
"She has drawn awkwardly, but I feel she can run a cheeky race if she can get some luck in the run."
Itz Lily (Mallyon) travelled safely to the Gold Coast this week as she attempts to make it three wins on the bounce in the MM Open Handicap (1800m).
"This is obviously a tougher assignment than the Summer Provincial Final, but she is going great and is nicely drawn," Lees said.
Last start winners Animate (Matt McGillivray) and Snowzone (Mallyon) have also landed starts in the $1m MM Cup (1400m) after being second and third reserves respectively.
"At least they are in the field, but both are going to need luck from poor draws," Lees said.
