Kris Lees has often targeted Randwick’s major summer meeting with great success, and he returns on Saturday with contenders in three of the four stakes races.
His record includes wins in The Ingham with Loch Eagle (2023) and Sense Of Occasion (2016), alongside Razor Sharp Handicap victories via Special Reward (2021) and Zestful (2017).
Brudenell leads his Razor Sharp assault this year, the gelding arriving in consistent form after finishing within a length of the winner in his two most recent starts, including a strong placing in The Hunter.
“He’s up in the weights a bit these days but he’s had four weeks between runs, and he races well like that,” Lees said.
“He was good in The Hunter. It’s probably a slight drop in grade and he needs the right run from a tricky gate (13).”
In The Ingham, Lees lines up Loch Eagle, Tavi Time and You Whang, with weather likely to prove decisive.
“Tavi Time doesn’t need the rain, Loch Eagle needs the rain and You Whang (21), she probably needs a bit of luck from the gate,” he said.
“She may also need one more run. She is going well, and she is being targeted at the Magic Millions.”
Age Of Sail also takes his place in the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) after a solid fourth in The Beauford at Newcastle.
Lees believes the imported stayer is well placed to break through at Sydney Saturday level.
“It looks a nice race for him,” he said.
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