Big team hunting Big Dance chance for Lees at Gunnedah

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will chase Big Dance Eligibility at Gunnedah on Sunday when he sends a huge team to the track headed by Oakfield Prince and Russian Roni in the Ultrafleet & Mannion Drilling Gunnedah Showcase Cup (1600m).

Lees has booked Aaron Bullock to ride Oakfield Prince, with Andrew Gibbons on Russian Roni, and the trainer thinks both can make a winning impact.

“It looks a nice race for them,” said Lees. “Oakfield Prince is racing well and is a last-start winner, and Russian Roni has been in the placings of late. They’ve both drawn awkwardly but with even luck they can both be in the finish.”

Lees will start the day with a couple of first starters in the Ultra Lubricants 2YO Showcase Handicap (1000m). Cornerback will be ridden by Gibbons, while Benjamin Osmond will be aboard Forging Ahead.

“They are both nice horses and it looks a good starting point for them,” Lees said. “They are both capable of running well.”

Bullock links with the Lees trained She’s Got Teeth in the H&M Refrigeration Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap (2150m), while Gibbons rides Trounce and Osmond partners Not My Problem for the stable in the Donoghue Valuations Showcase Super Maiden Plate (1400m).

Oakfield Mercury (Bullock) and Chillcuz (Osmond) will contest the Cool Blue Ice Class 1 Showcase Handicap (1400m), while Bullock will also ride Oakfield Duke for Lees in the Happy Birthday Autosmart Dom Lightning Showcase Handicap (1000m).

“It’s a nice team of horses we are sending up to Gunnedah,” said Lees.

“Trounce and Not My Problem are both lightly raced and have solid form to their names. They are a couple of handy fillies that look well suited in their event.