KRIS Lees will have a clearer picture of his Caulfield Cup prospects after his two hopes contest the final lead-up there on Saturday.
The leading Newcastle trainer has sent both Kalapour and Adelaide River to Melbourne to contest the $1m Might And Power Stakes (2000m), taking on hotpot and established Group 1 performer Mr Brightside.
Damian Lane will ride Kalapour, and Ben Melham has been booked for Adelaide River.
“Obviously Mr Brightside is the horse to beat, but I’m expecting my pair to run well,” Lees said on Thursday afternoon.
“Kalapour is going well and has taken benefit from two runs this campaign, and I’ve taken a tongue tie off Adelaide River to change things up a bit.
“Kalapour is already guaranteed a start in the Caulfield Cup (2400m), and Adelaide River is currently 17th in order of ballot.
“We’ll know where we sit with him after Saturday in regard to the remainder of the spring.
“Both horses have settled in well in Melbourne.”
Kalapour, who won the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens in March, has 55kg in the $5m Group 1 Cup on Saturday week, and Adelaide River has 2kg less.
Should either win the Might And Power, the fact that it is run at weight-for-age means there will be no Cup penalty.
Whilst Lees’ main focus is obviously Melbourne, he will be closely watching Rustic Steel’s performance in the $1.5m Alan Brown Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Rustic Steel led all the way to easily win the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) at home earlier in the year, and resumed at Royal Randwick on September 21 when eighth to McHale in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie (1400m).
“Rustic Steel has taken nice improvement from that run, and is going nicely,” Lees said.
“Saturday’s race should just about bring him to his peak, but I still feel he can run well on Saturday.”
Lees has three acceptors at Saturday’s Eagle Farm fixture, but is unlikely to start Loves Me Likearock in the Class 4 Plate (1200m) because of the wet track and her wide barrier.
Cloudland tackles the Class 6 Handicap (1400m) and Ucalledit the Listed Tatts Members Cup (1600m). Andrew Mallyon rides the former, and James Orman the latter.
“Cloudland did a terrific job at Toowoomba last time when narrowly beaten after having no luck in the run, and the current wet conditions in Brisbane will definitely suit him,” Lees said.
“He gets his chance to break through for another win.
“On the other hand I would have liked firmer conditions for Ucalledit, but I’m banking on the Eagle Farm track improving.
“This is a drop back from his latest seventh in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at home, and he won his only start at Eagle Farm over 1400m in December 2022 in Listed company.”
. Lees is waiting until just before the 7.30am scratching deadline on Friday before confirming a start for Prime Impact in that day’s $200,000 Big Dance Eligibility Port Macquarie Cup (2000m).
“I want to find out if any of the three topweights come out of the race to help our chances,” he said.
If a start gets the go-ahead, Dylan Gibbons will ride Prime Impact, who won the Cup Prelude (1800m) there on September 29 when racing resumed on a new track.
Gibbons also partners topweight Inver Park, who resumes in the Port Macquarie Sprint (1200m) with 62kg.
The import has been off the scene since finishing last in a Benchmark 90 Handicap (1400m) at the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington last November, and has had three trials in preparation for his resumption.
“Because he hasn’t raced for nearly a year, I want to see him perform first,” Lees said.
“He raced in much stronger events, but still didn’t win in five starts for us last year.”
Story John Curtis, October 10, 2024
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