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Stablemates would not face each other at Royal Randwick

3 minute read

Kris Lees will split his talented young sprinters The Bopper and Triple Ace at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

THE BOPPER winning the Amd Brian Crowley Stakes
THE BOPPER winning the Amd Brian Crowley Stakes Picture: Racing and Sports

Both are acceptors for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m), but Triple Ace is bound for Queensland tonight to chase another win, at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

However, The Bopper  (James McDonald) is not yet certain to resume at Randwick, with his trainer concerned another 1.7mm in the last 24 hours has kept a "Heavy 9" rating.

"I'll wait and see if the track improves before we make a decision about running," Lees said this morning.

"If he does run, I'm undecided which we way we ride from the outside barrier."

Lees pulled the pin on a Randwick resumption last Saturday with The Bopper in a similar race, but over 1100m, because of the heavy ground. He will be without blinkers if he does go to the post on Saturday.

The Bopper has won three of his seven starts to date, and hasn't started since finishing fourth to Capriccio in the $500,000 Inglis Dash (1100m) at Flemington in late February.

Triple Ace  , an underrated three-year-old, resumed as a gelding when third to Madam Legend in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill on June 26.

He has an excellent record of four wins and as many placings from his only eight starts.

"He's a nice horse, and has done well since his first-up run, from which he has taken improvement," Lees said.

"From a soft draw, he should be hard to beat at Eagle Farm. He looks really well placed."

Lees' Queensland stable jockey Andrew Mallyon, who is in brilliant form, will partner Triple Ace.

Lees' other Randwick runners are Miss In Charge (2YO Handicap, 1400m), Kinloch (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1200m), Itz Lily (Benchmark 88 Handicap, 1400m), and Think Free (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1400m), and all have definite prospects.

"Miss In Charge did a good job winning midweek at Canterbury at her second run this time back, and has worked well since," Lees said.

"She goes to 1400m, and deserves her chance in Saturday company in town."

"Kinloch made nice ground from an awkward draw at Rosehill last time after winning on the Kensington track, and Randwick will suit him.

"I expect him to run well again.

"Itz Lily is having her first start for new owners Bangaloe Stud after being sold (for $100,000) at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in late June, and has had a tickover trial at Gosford on July 5.

"She has a good fresh record (three wins from five starts) and handles wet ground.

"Think Free is going really well. She followed her dominant Wauchope Cup (1450m) win at Kempsey last month with an excellent second to Hard Labour (to whom she conceded 4kg) in the Mother's Gift (1400m) at last week's Grafton carnival.

"She is particularly effective on soft ground, and comes down 3kg."

. Lees has decided to keep Tactical Advantage in Melbourne following his eighth to Red Can Man in the wfa Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last Saturday.

"We might have a crack at another Group 3, the Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m), at Flemington on August 7," he said.

"It's a good prizemoney race ($200,000), and he has won over the 'straight six' at Flemington (at the Melbourne Cup carnival in November, 2019)."

 

 


Racing and Sports

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