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Kris Lees has fond memories and a definite soft spot for the Queensland Oaks for good reason – and he’s hoping the classic wil mean even more to him on Saturday.
Lees celebrated his maiden interstate Group 1 win in the 2005 Queensland Oaks with Vitesse Dane and also had the third placegtter that year Tick By. At the time it was only the second G1 win of his then fledgling career after County Tyrone won the 2004 AJC Metropolitan at Randwick.
Lees has had only five starters since in Queensland’s feature three-year-old fillies’ classic, with the best performed being Lacada Siren who ran fourth to Purple in 2009.
His last Oaks runner was Rustic Melody, who finished fifth to Winx in 2015.
Lees has two definite Oaks representatives Aliferous and Angel Of Heaven on Saturday plus two emergencies Itz Lily and Grand Bouquet.
Lees – like many other trainers – would prefer Saturday’s Oaks was run on the bigger stretches at Eagle Farm but he is approaching the classic with some confidence.
Aliferous, fourth in the ATC Oaks at Randwick last month, goes in as the first filly home in the Sydney classic as the three placegetters Verry Elleegant, Scarlet Dream and Frankely Awesome are absentees.
Angel Of Heaven was an excellent second to Fun Fact in last Saturday’s Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Eagle Farm and reverts to her own sex on Saturday.
“I’m very happy with both fillies, they’re in great order,” Lees said. “Before the barrier draw I would have said Aliferous was my pick and I still have a preference for her.
“But the draw has undoubtedly brought the two fillies closer. Angel Of Heaven is going to get a nice run from barrier three.”
Brenton Avdulla, back from a Japanese riding stint, partners Aliferous. He won the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 6 on the filly a week before her Oaks fourth.
Larry Cassidy has the mount on Redoute’s Choice filly Angel Of Heaven. Her dam Lights Of Heaven won the 2011 SA Oaks at Morphettville and the following year was narrowly beaten in the Doomben Cup before bolting away with the Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm.
Lees is giving thought to backing up Aliferous in Saturday week’s $600,000 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm. He took that path with Vitrese Dane in 2005 and she finished third in the Derby.
Lees will also run Australian Bloodstock pair Big Duke (Avdulla) and Sixties Groove (Damien Oliver) in Saturday’s $400,000 PJ O’Shea Stakes (2200m) as their final lead-up to the $400,000 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.
Sixties Groove was a late closing third to Kenedna in the G1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 18. Big Duke, having his first run since the Sydney Cup at Randwick on April 13, finished 13th.
He is putting blinkers back on Big Duke.
Lees has an interesting newcomer running for him at Doomben with Avdulla riding Longbottom in the Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds.
The aptly-named Sidestep filly is named after former rugby league star Kevin Longbottom, full back in South Sydney’s successful 1967 Grand Final team.
The filly, formerly trained by Brett Cavanough, was purchased by Australian Bloodstock for $140,000 at a Gold Coast sale on Tuesday.
Longbottom has raced only three times. After winning her first two starts including an Eagle Farm 1000m victory in April she was an excellent second to Spilt in the Inglis Challenge (1100m) at the Scone Cup meeting on May 10.
Larry Cassidy has retained the mount on the Lees trained Princess Posh in Saturday week’s $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.
Cassidy almost pulled off a huge upset when he rode $150/1 chance Princess Posh into second place behind Stradbroke favourite The Bostonian in the $700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
Her brilliant finish influenced owners Australian Bloodstock to abort plans to offer her at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast this week and keep her in training with Kris Lees for the Stradbroke.
“It’s a good decision,” Lees said. “She has now been placed twice at Group 1 level and can also run in the Group 1 Tatts Tiara against her own sex at Eagle Farm a fortnight after the Stradbroke.”
Princess Posh has only 52kg and is assured of a Stradbroke start but Lees has an anxious wait to see if Tactical Advantage (53kg) can make the final field.
Following first acceptances Tactical Advantage is 22nd in ballot order. Only 18 horses can start.
Lees has Brenton Avdulla, fresh from his riding stint in Japan, on standby to ride Tactical Advantage in the Stradbroke.
Lees gave Tactical Advantage a jumpout at Newcastle on Wednesday and will send the sprinter back to his Gold Coast stable early next week.