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Lees chasing Summer Provincial Series with Juventus and Toomai

3 minute read

Kris Lees has settled on Juventus and Toomai for Hawkesbury on Sunday as he seeks to bolster his hand to claim a third Sky Racing Summer Provincial Series.

Jockey : JASON COLLETT
Jockey : JASON COLLETT  Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

After accepting with three horses for the 1400m fourth heat (a Class 5 Plate) of the annual series, he decided to run Safado on the Kensington track later today.

Jason Collett will ride topweight Juventus , and stable apprentice Dylan Gibbons partners recent Newcastle long-priced winner Toomai .

Lees, who has won the last two Summer Finals with Occupy (Gosford) and Itz Lily (Wyong), has already qualified Darleb and Grande Rumore for the $150,000 Final (1600m) on his home track on December 18.

Five-times winner Juventus has raced once since resuming when fifth to Two Up in an Open Handicap (1200m) at Port Macquarie on November 11, whilst recent acquisition Toomai won a Benchmark 58 Handicap (1350m) at Newcastle on November 23 at her second appearance for her new stable.

"Juventus has come on nicely since his first-up run and has won and been placed three times when second-up," Lees said.

"He looks really well placed in Sunday's heat given his two city wins and many placings, and he has drawn nicely.

"Toomai's win at Newcastle wasn't a total surprise even though she was a $26 chance.

"She beat Colette (subsequent dual Group 1 winner) in a 1350m Maiden against her own sex on the Beaumont track here two years ago."

Last-start winners Darleb and Grande Rumore won't race again before the Summer Series Final in a fortnight.

Darleb won a Benchmark 75 Handicap (1400m) at the metropolitan meeting at the Sunshine Coast on November 20, and imported mare Grande Rumore was successful in the third heat of the series over 1500m on her home track last Sunday.

Lees also has Frozen In Time (apprentice Dylan Gibbons) and Longbottom (Glyn Schofield) in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) on Sunday, but this morning indicated both were unlikely starters.

His other Hawkesbury acceptor One Star Shining definitely won't run as she has gone bush to run at the Mudgee Cup Showcase meeting today.

. Lees' sole runner at his home track tomorrow is first starter Royal Ballet (Dylan Gibbons) in the Maiden Plate (1200m).

"She is a nice Fastnet Rock filly whom we have taken our time with," he said.

"Royal Ballet easily won a recent 1000m trial on the Beaumont track, and is ready to go to the races."

Royal Ballet will race in blinkers, and Dylan Gibbons is expected to claim at least 1.5kg on her.

 


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