While the focus is on bigger occasions for Kris Lees, it’s business as usual with the education of lesser tiered runners at a capacity eight race Scone TAB meeting on Monday.
Of three emerging youngsters, the stand-out is three-year-old filly Bangetta who was considered talented enough to contest a Listed race at Eagle Farm in June after a Doomben placing.
She resumed with a highly impressive 1150m maiden win at the Beaumont track three weeks ago when heavily backed into odds-on off two priming trials.
“A filly with plenty of upside, always had an opinion of her, big win off the trials, overcame difficulties, caught wide had to go back and closed so strong,” Lees enthused as Bangetta, at short odds again, has all in her favour in an Inglis BM 58, Heat of the Rising Star (1300m).
The Hellbent protégé again has the star stable apprentice Dylan Gibbons with 58.5kg and barrier six in a capacity field and ideally out to 1300m.
At Beaumont she drew wide, couldn’t get in but with Dylan powered from the furlong as though she had just joined in. She did hang a trifle under pressure so typically with Lees will make natural improvement.
“She’s trained on and will certainly appreciate getting out to the 1300m and the big track,” he said.
Lees has maiden stable mates Naahro and Oakfield Hawk contesting a Scone Equine Hospital Maiden Plate (1400m), ridden by Andrew and Dylan Gibbons respectively.
“He’s a nice Lonhro three-year-old good run this time in off the trials and ran into a smart one,” he said of Naahro who came from near last at Scone to be beaten two lengths by Invincible Whip.
“Oakfield Hawk is an improver, OK on debut off trials but he’ll be better out to a mile and race experience.”
– Racing NSW
