Latest news with #Kris Lees
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Missile Stakes washout sends Brudenell south to Caulfield in chase for $1m milestone
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is one trainer that's happy NSW officials decided to scrap the Missile Stakes after it was rained out in Sydney last week. The leading NSW provincial trainer had one of his favourite horses Brudenell set to line up in the unofficial start to the Sydney spring carnival but last Saturday's Randwick card was rained out and Racing NSW chose to scrap the race this year rather than rescheduling it. That decision opened the door for Lees to book the float and send the 10-time winner to Melbourne to contest Saturday's Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. 'The rain washing out Rosehill last Saturday was probably a blessing for us,' Lees said. 'The Missile was set weight and penalties and this is a handicap and where he sits in the pecking order means he's probably better served in a handicap. 'I reckon it's worked out all right.' Brudenell is closing in on $1 million in earnings and his trainer said while he's not the best horse in his Broadmeadow barns, you'd struggle to find a more durable and genuine racehorse. • 'He's a beauty, your typical Macquarie Stud type of horse,' he said. 'Born out at Wellington in Central Western of NSW, he's a tough and hardy horse that cops whatever you throw at him. 'I trained his mum Knit 'N' Purl, I trained his grandam Zingaling and Max (Kris' late father) trained her mother Done That. 'They were all cut from the same cloth and I guess you could say we know a bit about the family. 'I didn't pay a lot for him; it was less than $100,000 ($80,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale) and he's been a real stalwart for the stable. 'If he can win on Saturday, he cracks the million and there'd be no horse more deserving.' Brudenell last raced in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on June 7 – when narrowly beaten by subsequent Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes winner In Flight – and Lees said his tough gelding wouldn't be in need of the run. 'The formguide says he's had a spell but it's not the case,' he said. 'He's been in work the whole time and we had our sights on a race in July but I'd been happy with how he was going so I decided to bypass the July Sprint and wait for the Missile Stakes with an additional trial. 'He races well whenever we travel him and he's a winner at the track. 'Drawn to get the right run and with Mark Zahra in the saddle, you know he's going to get every chance.' Brudenell is a $6.50 chance to join million-dollar earners club at Caulfield on Saturday.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Promising filly Cantiamo made a winning return at Randwick Kensington on Wednesday with Kris Lees expecting bigger things to come
Trainer Kris Lees will contemplate giving classy filly Cantiamo her chance in Sydney's upcoming Princess Series following her determined fresh victory at Randwick Kensington on Wednesday. Cantiamo, sporting a noticeable winter coat, kicked off her campaign on the right note as a hot $1.55 favourite when wearing down the race fit Nullarbor Jane to score in the Myplate 3YO Fillies Maiden Handicap (1150m). Lees holds Cantiamo in high regard and felt the win had plenty of merit on a heavy track in her first run back from a break. 'It was a slowly run race and she will learn a lot from today,' Lees said. 'The second horse went really well and is race fit and up and going so I think there is a bit of merit to the win. 'She is a work in progress and as you saw in the parade she has some improvement to come so I think she will measure up in better races. 'We will see how she comes through this and see if we try to test her now or try and place her softer.' Lees indicated the Group 2 $300,000 Furious Stakes (1200m), the second leg of Sydney's Princess Series, on September 6 was a possible target for Cantiamo. Cantiamo is already prominent in Group 1 $750,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) betting where she shortened from $26 into $15 following her fresh success. Jockey James McDonald did the steering on Cantiamo and it wasn't long before he helped enhance another promising three-year-old's spring claims. The Chris Waller-trained Sixties broke through for his maiden success at start three in emphatic fashion with a seven length romp in the Inglis Xtra Bonus Handicap (1150m). Waller hopes Sixties will play a part in the spring but won't raise the bar too high.'Naturally we would like to see him in a 1200 or 1300m Handicap on a Saturday, well short of the good horses so he can take a gradual step and maybe join up with them in the late spring,' Waller said. The first of the 'good horses' will make their return this Saturday with the Listed $200,000 The Rosebud (1100m) set to be the main event at Rosehill Gardens. The Rosebud attracted a field of seven acceptors but that number was immediately reduced to six when Shaggy was scratched. Trainer Michael Freedman will saddle up the horse to beat in the form of Pallaton ($2.50 favourite) while Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou have key chances with Skyhook ($3.90) and Blitzburg ($4.60).
