KRIS Lees is readying a two-pronged attack on Saturday’s $500,000 The Lakes at
Wyong.
The leading Newcastle trainer intends accepting with both Almania and Spangler for the 1600m feature, and has Andrew Gibbons and stable apprentice Ben Osmond on standby for the rides.
“Kris is at the Magic Millions yearling sales at the Gold Coast, and will confirm in the morning the exact riders for the pair,” stable spokesman Danny Greer said this afternoon.
“We also nominated Pier Pressure (placed in last week’s Group 3 Gosford Belle of the Turf Stakes at Wyong over The Lakes course), but won’t be accepting with her. Instead, there are a couple of options on Saturday week at Rosehill Gardens.”
Almania (55kg) is resuming from a spell, whilst Spangler (54kg) has raced twice this preparation. Almania last raced when seventh to 2023 Australian Derby winner Major Beel in Benchmark 94 Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 7, and ran fourth in a 1200m Beaumont trial on December 30 in preparation for his resumption.
Spangler, whose prospects will be enhanced if there is continued rain during the week (he has won three from four on heavy ground), finished 14 th to The Lakes rival Robusto in the Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on December 14.
He contested the same Beaumont trial as his stablemate Almania on December 30, and finished second to Wizards.
Prior to Wednesday morning acceptances for Wyong’s historic 10-race Saturday stand-alone
metropolitan meeting, Spangler was at $8 with TAB.co.au, and Almania $26.
Four horses – Robusto, Chorlton Lane, and the Chris Waller pair Konasana (Belle of the Turf winner) and Osipenko – were sharing favoritism at $6.
Meanwhile, Bubba’s Bay will be a dual acceptor at the Magic Millions meeting scheduled for the Gold Coast on Saturday, with Eagle Farm announced as a standby venue should repair work on a replacement section of the turf track at the Coast not be successful in time.
Bubba’s Bay, whose nine of her 11 victories have been in Queensland, is in both the MM Fillies & Mares (1300m) and MM Snippets (1200m), with each carrying a $1m purse.
She is at $13 for the mares’ race, and $11 for the Snippets.
Bubba’s Bay, who has won four of her last five starts (the latest being the Listed Nudgee Stakes, 1200m at Eagle Farm on December 28 against her own sex), has 57kg in the F&M, and 55.5kg in the Snippets.
“Kris will look at the fields for both races and make a decision which way to go,” Greer said.
“He is leaning towards staying against her own sex, but is awaiting the draws.”
Loch Eagle also is likely to back up in the $1m MM Subzero (2200m) on Saturday.
An Eagle Farm winner over 1800m on December 28 on heavy ground, he finished fifth to Miss Joelene on a soft track in the $500,000 The Wave (1800m) at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday. Story by John Curtis, 7 January, 2025.
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