3 minute read
Drying track conditions have influenced Kris Lees to give Saunter Boy the nod over stablemate Doukhan in Saturday's Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm.
Lees has also opted to put blinkers on the imported Saunter Boy in the Listed feature over the marathon 3200m.
The Eagle Farm track has been rated a Good 4, conditions Lees believes will give Saunter Boy an advantage over the veteran Doukhan, a fellow import who is an accomplished wet tracker.
"Doukhan is going terrific, and you can never underestimate him at 3200m but the drier track suits Saunter Boy," Lees said.
"I've put blinkers on him to try to keep him in the race better."
Larry Cassidy will ride the six-year-old Saunter Boy while Ron Stewart has the mount on rising 11-year-old Doukhan. Both horses race in the Australian Bloodstock colours.
Saunter Boy has raced three times since joining the Lees team, the latest when fifth to Igraine in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) on a Heavy 10 at the Sunshine Coast on June 29.
Doukhan was a gallant second to Melbourne visitor Azuro in the Stayers' Cup over 3200m at Rosehill Gardens on a Heavy 9 the same day.
Lees has decided to begin a new campaign with another Australian Bloodstock representative Designer Maid at Eagle Farm rather than send her to the Randwick meeting on Saturday.
His decision was made easier when she drew awkwardly at Randwick where the rail is out 12 metres from the 1600m to the winning post and 10m for the remainder of the circuit.
Designer Maid will take on her own age at Eagle Farm in the 3YO Handicap (1000m) with Lees confident she will be competitive coming back from an operation.
"Designer Maid had a knee chip cleaned up which is the reason she hasn't raced since last December," Lees explained.
"I'm very happy with the way she is progressing. Her trials have been good, she has drawn a soft gate at Eagle Farm and is ready to go."
Designer Maid has won three of her four starts and is unbeaten in two recent trials, scoring easily at Newcastle over 800m on June 14 and again over 900m at Muswellbrook 12 days later.
Lees has another four acceptors at Randwick but Stella Sea Sun and Power Of Wexford are not certain starters.
Loveisili and Milseain will represent the stable in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m).
Loveisili, yet another Australian Bloodstock import, is coming off a freshen up after banking three wins in succession at Hawkesbury, Canterbury and Warwick Farm.
"I feel he is set for another good preparation," Lees said. "He is a lightly-raced rising five-year-old, and looks as though he can take the next step."
Lees is looking at the $80,000 Taree Cup (2000m) – a race he won with Slivovitz in 2014 and Olympic Academy in 2016 – for Loveisili ahead of the Wyong and Newcastle Cups in September.