KRIS Lees has highlighted Kind Words’ Queensland Oaks performance as a pointer to her Flemington prospects on Saturday.
The now four-year-old mare contests the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) – a feature the leading Newcastle trainer won with Lucia Valentina in 2015.
Chad Schofield will ride Kind Words, who races in the same colours for her New Zealand owner Lib Petagna.
Kind Words steps right up in grade after easily winning a Class 1/Maiden Plate (2000m) at Kembla Grange on October 26, but has always shown middle-distance potential and ran fourth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm in June.
“As the winner of only two races, Kind Words is not well weighted in the Matriarch given the conditions of the race (set weights plus penalties),” Lees said on Thursday.
“But you could make a case that she should have won the Oaks in Brisbane (she drew the outside barrier in a big field of 18 and raced wide throughout)).
“Kind Words has settled in well in Melbourne.
“It’s a very even field, and she isn’t without a chance.”
Lees broke his 2024 Melbourne spring carnival drought by winning the greys’ Subzero Handicap (1400m) at Flemington last Tuesday with Cloudland, and has kept the gelding there.
“I’ll talk with OTI managing director Terry Henderson later in the week to decide whether he has another start in Melbourne,” Lees said.
Whilst Kind Words is Lees’ sole Melbourne starter, Oakfield Hawk will be his only Sydney representative at Rosehill Gardens.
Jason Collett again rides Oakfield Hawk, a last start Wyong winner over 2130m, in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m).
The Dundeel gelding carried 60kg at Wyong in a Benchmark 64 Handicap, and tumbles 6kg going to stronger class.
“Oakfield Hawk did a good job at Wyong and deserves his chance at a Saturday race in town,” Lees said.
Queensland specialist Bubba’s Bay takes on stakes company at Doomben in the Listed Keith Noud Handicap (1200m), with Andrew Mallyon aboard.
“Bubba’s Bay has a fantastic record in Brisbane, with seven of her nine wins being there,” Lees said.
“She is chasing a hat-trick, having won her last two at Doomben and Eagle Farm, and is ready for a crack at a stakes race.”
Basarwa (Damien Thornton) is Lees’ other Doomben runner, in the Benchmark 85 Handicap (1615m).
“It was good to see him get back in the winning list last start at Doomben and, whilst he’s up in class, hopefully he can keep that going,” Lees said.
. Lees won his first Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury on Thursday with Rustic Steel ($14).
Winning rider Josh Parr claimed his fourth victory in the feature event, having previously scored on the Chris Waller horses Tromso (2013), Strawberry Boy (2014) and New Mandate last year.
Inaugural 2022 Big Dance victor Rustic Steel, in defeating Bandersnatch ($7.50) and Berkshire Shadow ($6), posted his 10th victory and lifted his earnings to nearly $2.1m.
A gallant Bandersnatch post-race was found to be 4/5 lame in the off foreleg, and Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle will have to produce a veterinary clearance to RacingNSW stewards before the gelding is cleared to resume racing.
Kembla Grange’s Kerry Parker and Hawkesbury husband and wife Jason Attard and Lucy Keegan-Attard also were successful at the Ladies Day Cup meeting.
Parker, who won the opener at Royal Randwick on Tuesday with the promising Flying Bandit, took the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m) with $13 chance Mah Ali (Jean Van Overmeire), who was having only her third start this campaign and also for her new trainer.
Van Overmeire was later suspended on an alleged careless riding charge after winning the opening race on favorite Squeezebox ($1.70).
Team Attard produced the well-named debutante Séance (her dam is Grave), ridden by Rachel King, to land the 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1100m).
Story John Curtis, November 8, 2024
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