KRIS Lees says there are a lot of options this spring for Changingoftheguard, who steps out for his second Australian start at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
But the trainer’s hometown $300,000 Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) on September 20 is unlikely to be one of them.
The Irish import, after only one local run a month ago, gets to a more suitable distance in the Listed City Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m), and James McDonald sticks with him.
The Galileo six-year-old appeared in a race for the first time in nearly 14 months when seventh to Golden Path in the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) at Randwick on August 10.
A Group 2 winner over 2406m at Royal Ascot in 2022 and then in another Group 2 over 2414m at the same meeting 12 months later, Changingoftheguard looks very well placed in what doesn’t appear to be the strongest renewal of City Tatts Cup.
Changingoftheguard is one of five Lees’ entries (the others are Adelaide River, Kalapour, Age Of Sail and Cleveland) for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.
“I was happy with Changingoftheguard’s first-up run, and he has had four weeks to get over that,” Lees said today.
“Going to 2400m is obviously more suitable. It’s just a case of him handling this at only his second run in such a long time.
“There’s no doubt Saturday’s race will bring him on further, and there are a lot of options coming up in both Sydney and Melbourne.
“I would think it is highly unlikely he will go to the Newcastle Cup next however.”
Lees has opted for a tongue tie on another import Adelaide River (Dylan Gibbons) in the Group 2 wfa Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).
Last year’s Irish Derby runner-up had two forget runs in Brisbane during the winter, but burst through along the inside to easily win a 1250m trial at Hawkesbury on August 26.
“Adelaide River is a stallion, and sometimes these older stallions start playing around with their tongue a bit,” Lees said.
“His trial was good at Hawkesbury, and hopefully he can carry that into Saturday’s race and start to show his overseas form.”
Almania (Benchmark 94 Handicap, 1600m) and Loch Eagle (Group 2 Tramway Stakes, 1400m) are Lees’ other Randwick representatives (with Memoria and Cloudland both bypassing the meeting and instead running at Doomben on Saturday in races Lees considers are better options).
“Almania is now a nine-year-old, and hasn’t raced since April,” Lees said.
“He can pull out a run fresh, but will take benefit from this race.
“Loch Eagle ran well on resumption when sixth in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 10.
“He has struck a strong Tramway, but the extra 200m is in his favour and he likes Randwick (two wins and four placings from nine starts).
“Loch Eagle will go next to either the Cameron Handicap (1500m) at home on September 20 or Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick a day later.”
Story John Curtis, September 6, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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