Kris Lees worried about rain for Brudenell in Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick
Like most trainers across the state, Lees has been closely monitoring the forecast with Randwick destined to race in the heavy range again for the first stakes meeting of the season.
The Missile Stakes was already blown wide open on Friday when trainer Joe Pride elected to trial hot favourite Private Eye at Warwick Farm instead of running him on a heavy track.
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Private Eye was a winner of his heat with Pride set to weigh up running him in next week's Group 2 $300,000 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield or the Group 1 $1m Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick the following week.
It's left General Salute as a $2.70 favourite with Brudenell ($5) and Robusto ($4.40) among the leading chances.
Another feature race scalp would be well-earned for Brudenell following a consistent winter campaign that included three stakes placings.
• Randwick inside mail: Buchanan can't believe odds for stayer
The son of Russian Revolution was second in the Listed Takeover Target, third in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes and second in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes.
Lees has given him a short freshen-up to reload for the spring and is confident he can maintain his strong form, provided the rain holds off on race day.
'He is competitive, puts himself in the right spot, rarely runs bad,' Lees said.
'I like him on soft ground but rain on the day would probably be a little concern for a horse like him, that would be my doubt.
'It says he is first-up but he is not really (after racing in the winter) and has plenty of residual fitness.
'He is a fit horse up early before the better sprinters come back so this is probably is right time.'
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Jockey Dylan Gibbons, Lees' former stable apprentice, has forged a strong bond with Brudenell with the pair already combining for five victories together.
While not in a stakes race, Adelaide River is a horse Lees is also keen to see feature in better races this spring.
But the Newcastle-based conditioner will leave it late to determine if the import lines up in the Cup Prelude Open (1800m).
The son of Australia had been missed the entire autumn as he dealt with bone bruising and was a chance to resume during the winter in the Listed McKell Cup before Lees elected to wait a little longer.
Kris Lees with Dylan Gibbons after a Brudenell win. Picture: Getty Images
Star jockey James McDonald has been booked to ride Adelaide River ($4.40) if he makes his return.
'It will be a decision for race day,' Lees said.
'He is in good order it's just whether we expose him to a heavy track first-up over 1800m after 10 months off.
'It's unlikely we would do that and there is a 1400m next weekend in both states (NSW and Victoria) so that's something we will consider.
'Everything is open with him. He has that mile and a half form at three but he is a big strapping horse and for mine he profiles like Mugatoo so I think he is versatile and he's back as a gelding now.
'There is no specific target but we want to see him race well.'
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Lees identified the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes as a possible target for Adelaide River.
Age Of Sail is an emergency in the same race as Adelaide River but is a significant chance of gaining a start with multiple scratchings likely.
Lees said the stayer is a 50-50 chance of running the race with another suitable race next week.
Little Beginnings ($34), a talented first-up horse, is also in doubt of running in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m).
Little Beginnings is being set for the $750,000 Little Dance on the first Tuesday in November thanks to his runner-up finish in the Mudgee Cup last preparation.
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