KRIS Lees has decided to back up Rustic Steel in a bid to win his home town’s feature race for the first time.
The leading Newcastle trainer late on Tuesday afternoon declared last Thursday’s Hawkesbury Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) victor a definite runner in the $1m Group 2 The Hunter (1300m) on Saturday.
Lees also nominated Spangler and Infancy, but will rely on Rustic Steel, who has 57.5kg.
The seven-year-old gelding, who won the inaugural running of the Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick in 2022, carried 59kg when he defeated Bandersnatch and Berkshire Shadow in last week’s Hawkesbury feature, lifting his earnings beyond $2m.
“Rustic Steel pulled up well from Hawkesbury, and had a couple of days on the water walker at our farm at Ellalong,” Lees said.
“He is coming back only 200m, and I’m keen to back him up.”
Lees has had 12 runners in The Hunter since its inception in 2019 – and has finished second on three occasions.
Tactical Advantage ($7) was beaten by Savatiano in the inaugural running, Special Reward ($13) was beaten by Sweet Deal in 2020, and Wandabaa ($41) chased home the favorite Lost And Running in 2021.
Rustic Steel ($17) was the trainer’s sole representative last year when he drew the outside barrier in a field of 12, and came from well back on the turn to finish fifth with 56kg to Coal Crusher, who again will be a rival.
Lees also will have runners in the $250,000 Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) and $160,000 Max Lees 2YO Classic (900m) at The Hunter meeting.
Japanese-bred filly Éclair Encore will be his Spring Stakes representative, and unraced pair Rustemo and Gobi Desert will line up in the Max Lees.
“The Spring Stakes doesn’t look to be the strongest renewal,” Lees said.
“Éclair Encore has had only three starts to date, and deserves her chance in a black type race.
“Rustemo and Gobi Desert both worked well at Broadmeadow on Tuesday morning,” Lees said.
Invincible Gem won the Spring Stakes for Lees in 2017 when it was run at Randwick, and he also ran second last year with Kind Words.
Rustemo, a Russian Revolution colt, fetched $25,000 as a Magic Millions yearling earlier this year, whilst Too Darn Hot filly Gobi Desert cost $600,000 as an Inglis Classic yearling.
The latter is a half-sister to Lees’ Melbourne Group 1 Lightning Stakes winner In Her Time.
Meanwhile, Infancy (56kg) will have Mark Zahra in the saddle when she contests Saturday’s Group 3 How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Story John Curtis, November 12, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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