Kris Lees is keeping his fingers crossed forecast rain eventuates prior to Rosehill Gardens meeting.
“I hope it does rain; it will suit all my horses,” Lees said.
The stable’s runners are:
ROSA CAROLINA (Tye Angland, 1400m Benchmark 82 Handicap);
STAR REFLECTION (Brenton Avdulla, 1200m Benchmark 80 Handicap); and
SAVOUREUX (Tim Clark, 1100m Benchmark 96 Handicap).
Rosehill (on Friday) morning was overcast, but rated a “Good 3” with a penetrometer reading of 4.61. The rail is 6m out for the entire course.
Rosa Carolina appreciated the sting out of the track when runner-up to Star Sensation in a Benchmark 76 Handicap (1300m) at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day (November 7).
“She goes up in grade, but drops 2.5kg as a result and has the rails alley,” Lees said.
Rosa Carolina’s two wins have been on soft ground and she has also been placed on four occasions on that type of surface.
Star Reflection is resuming, and won a 1000m Beaumont barrier trial on November 6 in preparation for tomorrow’s assignment.
“She is a very consistent mare and, though starting off again in Saturday grade in town, is not without a chance,” Lees said.
Star Reflection’s four wins to date have been achieved on good, soft and heavy ground.
Another mare resuming is Savoureux, and she has already come in for lengthy odds backing, punters obviously anticipating she will strike a wet track.
“She definitely needs the rain to come to be effective in this race,” Lees said.
“Savoureux gets back and it would be virtually impossible for her to pick them up from her outside draw and with the rail out if the track remains good.”
Lees’ promising English import Wallangarra, who clinched a hat-trick at Hawkesbury last Wednesday at his first metropolitan midweek appearance, may have one more start before a break.
Wallangarra has raced only four times since joining the stable, and turned in an excellent performance to score at the ATC meeting at Hawkesbury after being forced wide and yet still did his best work over the closing stages to score with 58.5kg over 2000m.
– Lees Racing
