By John Schell
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will look to continue his winning form when he sends a number of leading chances to Port Macquarie on Sunday.
Lees prepared Tavi Time to win the Summer Cup at Randwick on Boxing Day and he is hopeful of plenty of success at Port Macquarie over the holiday period.
Racing returns to Warwick Farm on Wednesday.Credit: Getty
Lees has a potential of four runners in The Entertainment Grounds Maiden Plate (1500m) with Mr Crowning Moment (Benjamin Osmond), Respectability (Jose Severo), Brain Wave (Darryl McLellan) and Real Magic (Andrew Gibbons) engaged to start.
“Mr Crowning Moment and Real Magic look to be the two out of them that have the best chances,” said Lees.
“The market suggests as much, and I’ll be happy if they can all run well.”
Lees has three acceptors in the Alpens B Safe Storage And Building Super Maiden Handicap (1200m) with By Gone Daze (Osmond), Play It Again (Severo) and Star Venture (Gibbons) set to ride.
“Play It Again ran well enough on debut and looks to have the talent to show up,” said Lees.
“And the other two also are lightly raced and forward showings wouldn’t surprise.”
The in-form mare Like Lukey will contest the Jack’Ed4X4 Mayor’s Cup – Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (2000m) with Severo in the saddle having won three in a row on her.
“She’s a nice mare that is racing in great form and Jose knows her very well now,” Lees said.
“I expect her to run very well again.”
Lees has a two-pronged attack in the Rococo By De Bortoli Provincial Class 1 Handicap with Cutepi (Gibbons) and Etude (Osmond) clashing in the event.
“Cutepi won well at Newcastle when resuming with Gibbo [Andrew Gibbons] in the saddle,” said Lees.
“She is talented and should run well again, while Etude has also shown her share of ability having won at Muswellbrook on debut before resuming with a second at Taree as favourite.”
Lees rounds out the day when Lady Soames runs in the WIN Network F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) with Osmond taking the ride having ridden her to a last start Muswellbrook win in August.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
