3 minute read
A better draw has swayed Kris Lees to switch to Animate as his likely best hope of capturing a third Provincial Championships Final at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Lees, who won the 2016 and 2018 Finals with Danish Twist and Serene Miss respectively, has qualified six of the 15 finalists (and also has second emergency Sequana) for the $500,000 1400m feature.
"Prior to the barrier draw, I was feeling Cristal Breeze (Hugh Bowman) might be my best chance," Lees said this morning.
"But Animate (Brenton Avdulla) has come up with a better draw, and that has influenced my thinking.
"There wasn't much between them when he beat Cristal Breeze home (they finished second and third respectively to the lightly-raced and talented mare Le Gai Soleil in a 1400m Benchmark 78 Handicap at Warwick Farm on March 31) at their latest runs.
"All of my six runners are at double figure odds, and we're going into the race more hopeful than confident of winning the Final again."
Lees has made one gear change for the Final, with winkers going on lightly-raced Loch Lomond (Tom Marquand), the "rookie" of his team.
Melbourne ace Damien Oliver scored on Danish Twist five years ago, and Jason Collett partnered Serene Miss to victory two years later.
These are Lees' thoughts on his 2021 representatives:
ANIMATE: "Going well and the barrier gives him a strong chance. Has come on nicely since his recent placing at Warwick Farm."
CRISTAL BREEZE: "Has been aimed specifically at the Provincial Championships, and is going well. The wide draw makes it awkward, but very pleased with him."
DARLEB (Collett): "Could be the smokey of the field. Should get a nice run from inside barrier and can hit the line well".
LOCH LOMOND: "Still inexperienced but doing everything right and has plenty of upside. Also drawn well and not without a chance."
GAME OF THORNS (Kerrin McEvoy): "Drawn poorly but in good order and will be suited by a fast pace."
ZEFTABROOK (Tim Clark): "On trial at the distance, but is a tough filly who has kept improving this time in work. Like Darleb and Loch Lomond, will get her chance from a favourable draw."
