Latest news with #KrisLees
The Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Kris Lees worried about rain for Brudenell in Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick
Trainer Kris Lees knows what he's going to get from ultra consistent sprinter Brudenell in Saturday's Group 2 $300,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) and just needs the conditions to play their part at Royal 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. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 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.' • Ray and Duff analyse every race at Randwick 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.' • 'Can't believe it': One-horse trainer takes on Sydney's elite 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. Read related topics: Weather
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kris Lees worried about rain for Brudenell in Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick
Trainer Kris Lees knows what he's going to get from ultra consistent sprinter Brudenell in Saturday's Group 2 $300,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) and just needs the conditions to play their part at Royal 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. 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. 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. IN FLIGHT wins the @VineryStud Bob Charley AO Stakes! The @PrideRacing mare arrives in time to claim the Listed feature at Randwick over Brudenell with Contemporary snatching third. @tabcomau @ProvenTbreds — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) June 7, 2025 '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.' • Ray and Duff analyse every race at Randwick 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. 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.' 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.
News.com.au
23-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kris Lees eyes San Domenico Stakes return with exciting colt Rivellino
Trainer Kris Lees has circled the Group 3 $250,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) as the likely spring kick-off point for exciting colt Rivellino. Rivellino, an unlucky fourth in this year's Golden Slipper, had his first public hitout with a low-key barrier trial at Gosford on Wednesday in preparation for another Group 1 assault this spring. Champion jockey James McDonald put the son of Too Darn Hot through his paces in an 800m heat, where he finished sixth behind Group 1 winners Gringotts and Another Wil. Lees intends to give Rivellino another trial before his likely return at Rosehill Gardens on September 30. 'I'm happy with how he's progressing,' Lees said. 'I think he's matured somewhat. 'I haven't noticed a huge difference in him physically but mentally he's grown up quite a bit. 'He was never a revy horse, he was more a bit of a lad and you had to keep an eye on him. He's more sensible now. 'He's a willing colt and you always wonder what the crop is like but I think he'll be competitive wherever we step him out.' La Pelago sticks the head out to beat Last Druid with First Person in third in an 800m @gosford_races trial on Wednesday - Group 1 winners Gringotts and Another Wil followed with classy colt Rivellino also trialling. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 23, 2025 • What are the odds of fairytale start for syndicate? Bookies rate Rivellino as a $15 chance in Golden Rose betting while he is an $11 hope in the Coolmore Stud Stakes later in the spring. His return to the races is likely to come a week after the two horses which finished in front of him in the trial - Gringotts and Another Wil. Both Ciaron Maher-trained gallopers also had a quiet morning out in their first public trial with the stable likely to target the Group 1 $1m Winx Stakes (1400m) first-up on August 23. Two-time Group 1-winning stablemate Light Infantry Man is set to join them in the spring Group 1 opener after also having a quiet 800m trial on the Central Coast. 'At this stage, that's the plan for Another Wil, Gringotts and Light Infantry Man to get them started in the Winx Stakes,' Maher's stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord told Sky Sports Radio.
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan hit with a 13-day suspension
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan has copped a 13-day suspension for careless riding from an incident at Doomben on Saturday. Queensland stewards suspended Dolan after he restrained his mount She Ours to a position behind Estrondo when 'insufficiently clear' of Chief In Charge (Damien Thornton) in the final race of the meeting. The stewards' report stated that Chief In Charge had to 'severely check to avoid the heels of She Ours', the $2.70 favourite which finished runner-up to Noble Decree. The Matt Hoysted -trained Chief In Charge placed 11th out of 12 runners in the $85,000 3YO Handicap (1350m). Dolan, who stunned the nation after winning last year's Melbourne Cup on $91 roughie Knight's Choice, pleaded guilty to the careless riding charge. His suspension will start next Sunday and he will be free to return to riding on Saturday, August 2. Irish jockey Dolan steered the Kris Lees -trained gelding Hawker Hall to victory in Saturday's opening race, a Class 3 over 1110m.
News.com.au
05-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Josh Parr keeps his form surge going as Cloudland storms home for another first-up win at Rosehill
Jockey Josh Parr continued his late season form surge when propelling eye-catching grey Cloudland to another first-up triumph at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Parr and Cloudland powered home from just worse than midfield, surging down the middle in the straight to stylishly score in the Foundation Female Member Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m). It was in stark contrast to his earlier all the way victory on Storm The Ramparts but brought up another winning double for the in-form hoop. Parr, who had a treble seven days earlier at Rosehill Gardens, endured a somewhat lean winter in Brisbane but has been riding the crest of wave since turning his focus back to his home state and is eager to keep the hot streak going. 'When a jockey is in form and confident, things just happen and they happen without you even thinking about it,' Parr said. 'You just have ride the wave and everyone is on that rollercoaster. 'You've got to enjoy it when it's here.' Cloudland was a three-time winner fresh before Saturday but the Kris Lees -trained galloper was sent out as a $21 outsider in his return. Parr would have been smiling to himself during the run with a genuine tempo affording runners back in the pack with every chance. He hit the front on Cloudland inside the final 150m and held the Joe Pride -trained Cosmonova ($9.50) to a length margin with J ames Cummings ' Fleetwood ($11) close up in third. 'He gave me a really good effort today,' Parr said. 'The speed was on which was nice and we found that three-wide with cover line and he really appreciated it. â˜�ï¸� Away with the clouds! â˜�ï¸� Cloudland storms home first up, and that's a Rosehill double to @JoshuaParr8! @LeesKris @OTIRacing @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 5, 2025 • Pride's crack sprinter Storms to another victory 'He is a horse that you can't bully around too much. You have to allow him to please himself and I think in that position with room, he appreciated it. 'We saw a really good turn of foot from him, albeit maybe 50 yards too soon, but I am glad he put enough of a gap in them to hold on late.' Lees' stable representative Danny Greer said the stable were expecting another bold first-up performance from Cloudland. 'We quietly confident coming here today, we were just a little bit worried about the draw,' he said. 'We knew they would run along early and give him the chance to find the line strongly. 'It was a really nice from Josh Parr as well, it's always nice when we can connection with him.' Greer indicated the Listed $200,000 Ramornie Handicap at Grafton could come up too quick for Cloudland. Meanwhile, the Ciaron Maher -trained Hi Dubai highlighted her tenacity to hold off all challengers in the Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1100m). Star apprentice Braith Nock was able to control things from out in front and Hi Dubai ($3.10 equal favourite) had enough in the tank late to edge out the flying Savagery Vibe ($3.10 equal favourite) to his inside. How about that finish?! Hi Dubai has somehow held on 🤯🤯 Braith Nock on the board for Ciaron Maher ðŸ'�ðŸ'� @NockBraith @cmaherracing @Dynamic_WONIT â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025 • Snowden youngster proves a winter Force after hat-trick 'I just wanted to make sure we got that mid-race breather,' Nock said. 'It takes quite a while to wind up so I just wanted to get going at the 500m and build momentum. 'It worked out good.' Hi Dubai had been building towards another victory this preparation following a pair of close thirds at Royal Randwick to begin her preparation. The daughter of Highland Reel has now banked more than $320,000 for connections with a record of four wins and six placings from 14 starts. 'She deserved it,' Maher's stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord said. 'It was the right set up, third up and very fit. 'Stepping up to 1100m with some give in the track, all the boxes were ticked but she had to be tough. 'We would like a few more like her. She was beaten a few times down the straight but she kept kicking and obviously the claim helped.' Jason Deamer -trained African Daisy.
