In-form Broadmeadow trainer Kris Lees may be eyeing his third consecutive quinella at a major weekend meet at Brisbane on Saturday but he will also have one eye on Scone where he will vie for the 2013 Ortensia Stakes trifecta with three stablemates running in the classic.
Kris Lees will saddle up three 2013 Ortensia Stakes hopes including Emotional Circus (pictured). Photo: Steve Hart.
Following his success Queensland Oaks hopes Express Power and Soapy Star who ran one-two in the Gold Coast Bracelet at the Gold Coast two back, Lees enjoyed another metro quinella when Urgent Bells beat home Nuptse in Rosehill sprint last Saturday.
Tomorrow Express Power and Soapy Star will go for a rematch on Doomben Cup Day looking for the same GC Bracelet result in the Group 3 The Roses (2000m) as they head towards the lucrative $400,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on the first of next month.
“Express Power has done extremely well since her win at the Gold Coast,’’ Lees said.
“She has drawn real well and should be very hard to beat.
“I sent Soapy Star back north for this race to see if she can stay. If she runs well, she can have a go at the Oaks as well.”
Back in New South Wales meanwhile Lees also plays a strong hand in one of the two-day Scone Cup Carnival feature races with three runners facing off in the last on Saturday, the $140,000 Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m).
“All three have the ability to win,” the diplomatic trainer said.
The bet fancied of his trio is Elusive Quality mare Emotional Circus (barrier three) at $6 who is co-favourite in the markets with multiple Group 1 winning mare Ortensia who the race has been named after this year.
“Emotional Circus needs luck but if things go her way she will be right in the finish,” he said.
Following closely is then his veteran 10-year-old Motpsur ($7) also drawn ideally in gate two who races for the first time since a failed effort at Rosehill in January, before early market mover Sharnee Rose ($11) rounds out Lees’ Ortensia Stakes contingent.
“Old Motspur is going enormous and as usual is first up for this race and did trial well at Newcastle,” Lees said.
“Sharnee Rose is having her first start for me but her form in Melbourne is good enough to suggest a race like this is definitely not beyond her.
“She has really pleased me in her time with me.”
To get behind Lees’ runners in Brisbane, Scone and for the upcoming Group 1’s later in the season make sure you head over to bookmaker.com.au and bet with the country’s leading online bookie!
