3 days ago
Kris Lees withdraws Adelaide River from Premier's Cup Prelude at Randwick-Kensington as he sweats on start for Age Of Sail
Trainer Kris Lees has decided against rising classy stayer Adelaide River first-up on the very heavy Kensington track but is sweating on a start for Age Of Sail in the Premier's Cup Prelude (1800m) on Wednesday.
The Prelude was added to the Kensington meeting after the Royal Randwick washout last Saturday, with the field size subsequently reduced to 12 starters.
This left Age Of Sail ($31) as fifth emergency but there have already been three scratchings including stablemate Adelaide River.
'We are going to need a bit of luck to get Age Of Sail into the race,'' Lees admitted.
'He's had a couple of trials and is ready to go. I've nominated him for a race at Doomben on Saturday if he doesn't get a start in the Prelude.''
Kensington was rated a heavy 10 late on Tuesday which prompted Lees to withdraw the Lloyd and Nick Williams-owned Adelaide River from the Premier's Cup Prelude.
'I've nominated Adelaide River for Rosehill and Caulfield on Saturday so we have options,'' Lees said.
Adelaide River came to Australia with a big reputation after showing considerable staying potential earlier in his career including a second placing behind champion Auguste Rodin in the Group 1 Irish Derby.
But Adelaide River has been unplaced in five starts since joining the Lees stable although he ran encouraging races when fourth in both the Chelmsford Stakes and Caulfield Stakes last spring.
Deep Impact colt Auguste Rodin completes the English-Irish Derby double!
It's also a first win in the @DDFRacing Irish Derby for Ryan Moore, and Aidan O'Brien's 100th European Classic victory ðŸ'� #グーギュストãƒãƒ€ãƒ³ | #ディープインãƒ'クト | #競馬 | @Ballydoyle
— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) July 2, 2023
•
Lees then gave Adelaide River a long spell where the six-year-old was gelded and he has been very impressive in three recent barrier trial wins.
'He's a really nice horse and I'm happy with how he is coming up for the spring,'' Lees said.
'His form overseas is great and there were glimpses of that last preparation. I think now that he is a gelding, we might see the best of him.''
The champion Newcastle trainer also has promising filly Cantiamo resuming in the Myplates Handicap (1150m),
Cantiamo is superbly bred by Darley's boom sire Too Darn Hot out of Valencay, herself a direct descendant of the legendary broodmare Eight Carat, dam of five Group 1 winners including champion Octagonal and Mouawad.
A $220,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase, Cantiamo only had the one start during her juvenile season, where she was heavily backed into favouritism before finishing fifth to top filly Within The Law in the Inglis Nursery.
Impressive trial for one heading into her 2nd prep.
Cantiamo (2f Too Darn Hot x Valencay)
220k buy for @Leesracing & Bahen Bloodstock from @SledmereStud at @inglis_sales Classic
Only had 1 start - 5th Inglis Nursery. Her 4th dam is the great Eight Carat. @DarleyStallions
— Breednet (@BreednetNews) July 24, 2025
• Skyhook, Pallaton duel for Rosebud favouritism
Lees has given Cantiamo two barrier trials to prepare for her return including her easy Gosford heat win on July 23 where champion jockey James McDonald was so impressed he wanted to stay on the filly for her Kensington comeback.
'The heavy track is not ideal but she has had a couple of trials and has been fit and ready to go for a while now,'' Lees said.
'If we wait too long we might miss our chance to get her to the better fillies races.''
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors are taking no risks with Cantiamo who is the $2.30 favourite in overnight betting to win the Kensington opener.
Lees takes another well-bred three-year-old Woodrow ($19) to the races for the first time in the Inglis Xtra Bonus Handicap (1150m).
Woodrow, by champion sire Exceed And Excel out of Group 1 winner Miss Wilson, cost $225,000 at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and has shown promise in two recent trials.
'We've also had Woodrow ready to race and I'm happy to give him his chance on Wednesday,'' the trainer said.
Lee's other stable starter is former French gelding Valimi ($17) in the PKF Global Handicap (1550m).
'Valimi is a work in progress,'' Lees admitted.
'I've got to say he has been a little disappointing from what we expected of him when he arrived here but I think his most recent run (fourth behind The Years at Warwick Farm) was a step in the right direction.
'He has been comfortable on soft ground overseas, we will put him up on speed and he should run well.''
