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Kris Lees won’t be trackside tomorrow at Royal Randwick, but has given his talented apprentice Dylan Gibbons a total vote of confidence with six mounts.
Lees is heading north for the feature Eagle Farm meeting, but has seven Sydney runners (including two in the Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1100m) – and Gibbons will ride six of them.
His mounts are Strange Charm (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1400m), Our Candidate (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 2400m), Enchanted Heart (1100m Handicap), Animate (1400m Handicap), French Marine (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1300m), and Snowzone (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1100m).
No Laughing Matter also represents the stable in Snowzone's race, and Brock Ryan has the ride.
Gibbons' 3kg claim will prove invaluable on five of his mounts – but he will not be able to use it on Animate, who has only 1kg above the minimum at 53kg.
Dual acceptor Strange Charm will line up against her own sex rather than the 1300m Benchmark 78, where French Marine will be the lone stable representative.
These were Lees' thoughts this morning on his Randwick starters:
STRANGE CHARM: "Was a forgive run last time in the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford when resuming. Couldn't get out and was unable to be tested to the finish. Has done well since and hopefully the track continues to improve to a soft rating (currently a Heavy 9)".
OUR CANDIDATE: "Showed some glimpses of his best form last time at Gosford three weeks ago in a similar race. Working well and has raced well at Randwick."
ENCHANTED HEART: "Handles the ground and ready to go back to the races. Has trialled well and I expect her to run well fresh, but don't know whether she can beat the favorite (Andermatt)."
ANIMATE: "In really good order and better for his first-up sixth in the Takeover Target, which was excellent coming from near the tail of the field. The 1400m suits second-up and has a really good chance."
FRENCH MARINE: "Very consistent and ran a good race at Scone last time with a big weight (61.5kg) when a close fourth in the Country Cup. Drops to 54kg, and was placed in the Provincial-Midway Final at Randwick at his previous start."
SNOWZONE: "Was to have started at Doomben last Saturday, but brought him back when the meeting was washed out. He is in good form winning his last run at Grafton with 61kg, and down 4kg after Dylan's claim. This is stronger obviously but likes this type of ground."
NO LAUGHING MATTER: "Good on heavy ground and two recent trials have been excellent and have her ready to run well first-up. No surprise to see her perform first-up with a light weight."