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Former Victorian import Sixties Groove wil take on the Waller Army at his first start for his new trainer in today's $200,000 Group 3 Livamol Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).
Sydney’s training supremo Chris Waller dominates the field with seven of the 12 acceptors, seeking to win the race for the third time after Coup Ay Tee in 2013 and Amovatio (2016).
However Newcastle's leading trainer Kris Lees is by no means throwing the towel in and has dual Hawkesbury Cup winning rider Jason Collett to help him land the feature with Sixties Groove.
Collett won the 2013 Cup on Coup Ay Tee for Waller and the 2017 edition on Fabrizio for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Six-year-old import Sixties Groove has won six of his 20 starts, including the 2050m Moe Cup under 60kg last October and two over 2000m at Flemington three months earlier when he was trained by Darren Weir.
He makes his debut for Lees on the back of two barrier trial placings, finishing second to stablemate Articus over 1200m at Newcastle on April 5 and then third to Mo The Great over 1000m on a heavy Beaumont track 12 days later.
“Sixties Groove is a nice horse, and I’m happy with how he is going,” Lees said. “No doubt he will take improvement from this race but I’m expecting him to run well all the same.”
A Brisbane winter carnival campaign is in the offing if the gelding races up to expectations tomorrow.
Lees has decided to remove a tongue tie from joint topweight Sixties Groove, who has drawn barrier three.
Other successful Hawkesbury Cup winning riders with mounts are James McDonald (Leebaz, 2014), Kathy O’Hara (Darci Be Good, 2012) and Corey Brown (Jack Attack, 1994).
They partner Kaonic, New Universe and Archedemus respectively.
Lees has Tactical Advantage (McDonald), like SIxties Groove a memberf of the Australian Bloodstock team, resuming in the Listed XXXX Gold Hawkesbury Rush (1100m).
The classy sprinter has an excellent first-up and distance record, having never missed a placing in four first-up assignments including two wins.
He has started eight times over the 1100m foir three wins and three seconds.
“Tactical Advantage is coming up well and it looks a nice race for him," Lees said.
Tactical Advantage hasn’t raced since winning the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on January 17, carrying 57.5kg – 2kg less than his Hawkesbury weight.
He has trialled twice in preparation for his return and at his latest scored with ease over 1000m on a heavy Beaumont track on April 17.
Lees won the Hawkesbury Rush two years ago with Felines (Hugh Bowman).
He has withdrawn Chilly Cha Cha from the Richmond Club Provincial Stayers Handicap (2100m) but has decided to pit Bastia (Tim Clark) and Chalmers (McDonald) against each other in the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1500m).
He has withdrawn Bastia from an Eagle Farm engagement to target the Hawkesbury race.
“Both are going well, and can figure in what appears to be an open race,” Lees said.
Bastia struck interference in the straight at his last start at Gosford and won fourth-up over 1600m at Royal Randwick last campaign.
Chalmers has been placed at both runs since resuming, the latest when third to Bobbing in the $500,000 Provincial Championships (1400m) at Randwick on April 13.
Lees also considers Miss Que (Glyn Schofield) is a knockout chance in the G3 Killahy Equine Hawkesbury Crown (1300m).
She gave a ton of cheek at big odds when sixth (beaten only a length) to Trekking in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last Saturday when ridden positively to overcome an awkward barrier.
Miss Que has again fared poorly in the draw, and will start from the outside in the nine-horse field.
“We’ll roll forward on her again,” Lees said. “She ran boldly last week, and is back against her own sex tomorrow.”