Kris Lees will saddle up three genuine chances at the Newcastle Jockey Club race meeting on the course proper track on Tuesday after the decision was made to shift from the Beaumont track due to the recent wet weather. The trio is Miracle Day, Lord Winston and Spellcatcher.
Former Victorian galloper Miracle Day will carry 62 kilograms in the 1200 metre Australian Bloodstock Benchmark 58 Handicap. The 4 year old was trained by Robert Hickmott in Victoria where he had six starts for four placings.
Miracle Day entered the Lees stable during the winter and he was unbeaten in two Muswellbrook barrier trials before an easy Muswellbrook Maiden win on October 2. He has a nice barrier and he has been placed twice on soft tracks.
The Queensland owned three year old Lord Winston will contest the 1350 metre The Prince Of Merewether Maiden Handicap. On debut recently on a soft track at Gosford, Lord Winston ran on okay to finish fourth, two lengths from the winner. An additional 250 metres on Tuesday is more suitable.
The Australian Bloodstock gelding Spellcatcher resumes from a spell in 1200 metres Hungerford Hill Maiden Plate. The three year old’s only start was at Scone in January when he led and finished third, less than a length form the winner. He has won two recent barrier trials.
Aaron Bullock will ride the Lees’ trio. Lees discussed the stables representatives on Sunday. “All three will be hard to beat and Miracle Day is probably my best. He has a big weight but he put them away easy albeit in an inferior race first up for me at Muswellbrook.
“Spellcatcher is trialling really well, and he is ready to run well first up. Lord Winston will be a ‘miler’ in time but second up he is suited this trip. I also have Toomai in the last race and she will need the run” Lees said.
The Freedman brothers training partnership will be represented on Tuesday by two well fancied top weights. Amour Force has the rails barrier in the 1350 metre The Prince Of Merewether Maiden Handicap. The gelding finished at the tail of the field last start at Newcastle but he was only 1.2 lengths from the winner.
Estonia has been runner up in both starts this preparation on provincial tracks and she looks the winner of the Tab.com.au Maiden Handicap (1350m) she led and was run down and beaten a head on a heavy track at Kembla last month. It is a strong seven event country race meeting on Tuesday.