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Newcastle’s leading trainer Kris Lees holds a two-win lead over Australia’s premier trainer Chris Waller in the Newcastle Trainers' Premiership heading into Newcastle’s last meeting of the 2020/21 season on Saturday.
Lees, who has won multiple premierships on his home track, has trained 19 winners with Waller on 18 wins and Kim Waugh on 13.
The Trainers' Premiership could develop into a close finish as Waller has accepted with six of his team while Lees has only two runners.
Waller's half a dozen runners include Military Man (Race 4), Island Press (2), Apollate (5), Volterra (5), Kermajack (7) and Yiyi (8). Lees's pair Noble Flame (race 2) and Confessed (7) will both be well fancied.
Noble Flame, a 2yo filly, steps out for her second race start in the 1200m Charlestown Square Maiden Handicap. Andrew Gibbons was aboard Noble Flame on debut when she was fourth in a 900m 2yo maiden on this track on June 26. That was a stronger race than Saturday's.
Confessed is another good mount for Gibbons and runs in the 1600m Benchmark 64 Handicap. The filly overcame difficulties when she was an easy winner on this track on June 5th and she will appreciate the 'mile 'on the roomy track.
When contacted on Thursday, Lees was confident that his pair will run well but he preferred Confessed.
"Don't get me wrong as I believe Noble Flame is a promising filly, however, this Newcastle meeting was originally scheduled for Wyong and I had earmarked an 1100 metre race for her.
"When the meeting was transferred to Newcastle and that meant a longer trip, I wasn't going to run her. After I studied the acceptances I decided to run and Noble Flame will perform well.
"Confessed will love the mile on the home track and her win here two starts back was very good. She has a soft draw and has a very good chance," Lees said.
Of the Waller team, Military Men, Apollate, Volterra, Kermajack and Yiyi all have a chance in their respective events.
Local trainer Jason Dreamer has engaged Scone apprentice Reece Jones to ride his talented filly Dominant Lady in the 900m Sharp Office Class 1 Handicap.
A Newcastle maiden winner over this trip in December, the 3yo is ready to win after two runs from a spell. She was beaten half a length first-up at Scone on June 1 and was a close third on the Kensington Track on June 16. Jones's 2kg claim is a positive.
Christian Reith has ridden 23 winners on the Newcastle track this season, four ahead of Alysha Collett. On Saturday Reith has four mounts and Collett six.
In the Newcastle Apprentices' Premiership, Tyler Schiller has ridden eight winners, two ahead of Jones. Schiller is not riding and Jones has a full book of eight mounts on Saturday.
Jones leads the NSW Apprentices' Premiership with 92½ winners.
