You Wahng using The Coast as stepping stone to Queensland Oaks

News.com.au

09-05-2025

'This is like a $500,000 barrier trial that she could win or run well.''
Trainer Kris Lees made this honest assessment of three-year-old filly You Wahng's chances going into the Listed $500,000 The Coast (1600m) at the Gosford stand-alone meeting on Saturday.
But before Lees finds himself in hot water with stewards, the champion trainer qualified his statement.
You Wahng is coming off her very good third, beaten less than a length, in the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks won by Melbourne's wonder filly Treasurethe Moment a month ago.
Lees is bringing You Wahng back from 2400m to 1600m for The Coast as he readies his filly for a Group 1 Queensland Oaks campaign.
But with the Gosford track rated a Soft 7 – and more rain is forecast for race day – Lees said You Wahng can make her presence felt in the feature Gosford race.
'If we get more rain then You Wahng is right in this race,'' Lees said.
'She's freshened up nicely since the Oaks at Randwick and after she runs in The Coast, she will go two weeks into The Roses and then the Queensland Oaks.''
You Wahng has only had six starts and Lees pointed out that both of the filly's wins have been at 1400m.
'She might be on an Oaks preparation but I do think she will be competitive on Saturday,'' Lees said.
You Wahng is at $17 in latest TAB betting on The Coast with Know Thyself, winner of the Country Championships Final earlier this autumn, a firm $3.50 favourite.
Lees has some very good chances at Gosford including reliable sprinter Brudenell ($5) in the Group 3 $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m).
Brudenell, a stakes winner at Moonee Valley two starts back, handles all track conditions and impressed Lees with an easy barrier trial win at Wyong late last month.
'We have freshened up Brudenell and he should be very competitive,'' Lees said.
'I like him on this style of track where he can stalk the speed.''
Lees also had last start Group 2 Sapphire Stakes winner Infancy entered for the Takeover Target Stakes but instead has decided to take the mare to the Gold Coast for the Listed $160,000 ATC Trophy (1200m).
'I just felt the Gold Coast race looked a little easier for Infancy,'' he explained.
Lees also endorsed Power Of The Brave's chances at the Gosford meeting when he lines up in the $200,000 Thunder Thousand (1000m).
Power Of The Brace ($10) goes to Gosford in a rich vein of form and was denied a hat-trick of wins when narrowly beaten by Shall Be at Wyong last start.
'He's an ultra-consistent horse when he gets the right set-up which he should do from the gate (barrier five),'' Lees said.
The Lees-trained Memoria ($8.50) is also racing in career-best form and rates as one of the chances in a competitive closer, the Gosford Railway Hotel Handicap (1200m).
A striking grey mare, Memoria has won twice and been placed three times in five starts this campaign including her impressive all-the-way win at Randwick two weeks ago.
'She is a beauty,'' Lees said of Memoria.
'She races on speed and gives herself every chance.
'Benjamin Osmond rides Memoria well and his 2kg claim is important as she is not a big mare.''
PRIDE'S RECORD BID IN DOUBT
Trainer Joe Pride might have to wait another year to win a record sixth Takeover Target Stakes.
Pride revealed he is having second thoughts about starting the brilliant Accredited, the $5 favourite for the Gosford Group 3 sprint.
'I'm watching the weather,'' Pride said.
'Accredited is going really well but he's at his best on a firmer track and I'm reluctant to run him first-up on a wet track.
'I've set him for the Takeover Target Stakes and I'm keen to run but we might save him for Scone next week.''
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Pride said the opposite applies to Storm The Ramparts who is entered for the $200,000 Thunder Thousand (1000m).
'Storm The Ramparts loves a wet track,'' the trainer said.
'He is Dragonstone's half-brother and although he is not as good as him, he's a handy sprinter in his own right.
'Their dam, Quick's The Word, is by Shamardal and is a good producer.
'I've had a bit of luck with broodmares by Shamardal. Both Ceolwulf and Private Eye are out of Shamardal mares.''
GIGA CASHED UP
Giga Kick, the 2022 The Everest hero, will move to eighth on the all-time list of prizemoney earners if he wins the Group 1 $1m The Goodwood at Morphettville on Saturday.
The Clayton Douglas-trained Giga Kick has already earned $12,795,950 and is 10th on the rankings behind mighty mare Winx with $26,451,175.
If Giga Kick wins The Goodwood, he will take his earnings to $13,343,200, moving past I Wish I Win ($12,844,303) and Via Sistina ($12,829,989).
Giga Kick is the $2.15 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to win The Goodwood where he is extremely well weighted with 54.5kg.
KA YING'S WORLD RANKING IS RISING
Hong Kong's super sprinter Ka Ying Rising, the early favourite for the $20m The TAB Everest, has moved into equal second position on the 2025 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings.
Ka Ying Rising scored his 12th consecutive win in the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin last start and improved his official rating to 126 from 124.
This moves Ka Ying Rising alongside another Hong Kong champion, Romantic Warrior, on the official world rankings.
The only horse rated above the Hong Kong duo is Japan's Forever Young on 127, which he earned after defeating Romantic Warrior in an epic Saudi Cup.
The highest Australian-trained horse on the world rankings is Chris Waller's champion mare Via Sistina with 119, ranking her equal 16th.
Via Sistina has had a remarkable 2024-25 season winning a record-equalling seven Group 1 races including the Cox Plate-Queen Elizabeth Stakes double and is a certainty for Australian Horse of the Year honours.