Lees' Wyong trio aims to secure more spots in the final of Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championship.

Kris Lees accepted with five horses, but is likely to rely on three at Wyong on Saturday as he attempts to gain further representation in the $500,000 Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championship Final.

Trainer : KRIS LEES
Trainer : KRIS LEES Picture: Steve Hart

Acquitted  (Koby Jennings), Mobstar  (Andrew Gibbons) and Willinga Freefall  (Jeff Penza) will line up for him in the 1350m Qualifier.

"Provided the trials at Gosford are on in the morning, Sailor and Mauricently will go there for separate 1000m heats," Lees said this afternoon as storms were about to hit.

Lees has won four Finals, and did not have a representative for the April 8 event at Royal Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships until Cloudland ran second to 1400m track record breaker Short Shorts in last Saturday's Kembla Grange Qualifier.

"I thought he ran a terrific race first-up, especially considering how quickly the race was run," Lees said.

"Acquitted looks to be the best of my three at Wyong.

"He is going well, and has come on nicely since his first-up fourth to True Crime in the Newcastle Qualifier on March 9.

"He is a metropolitan winner at Eagle Farm last May on a heavy track, so it won't be a concern if the track is downgraded for Saturday's meeting.

"Willinga Freefall ran third in the Hawkesbury Qualifier on March 4 and gives himself every chance by racing up on the speed.

"He has won two from two on soft tracks, and has a nice record from only five starts.

"Mobstar has a real liking for Wyong, so he cannot be ruled out either.

He is unbeaten from two starts on the track, and is drawn favorably."

. Lees has sent The Bopper to Melbourne to contest Saturday's Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) on the Flemington straight course.

Damien Oliver will ride the gelding, who arrived safely in Melbourne this morning.

"The Bopper is going great, and this looks a very suitable race for him, and importantly he has had experience racing on the straight track there," Lees said.

"It's quite a drop from his latest fifth to Passive Aggressive in the wfa Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 4 when beaten only two and a half lengths.

"He had won two of his previous three starts in Queensland."

. Promising three-year-old Tavi Time is out of Saturday's Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens with a near hind leg issue, leaving Never Talk (Dylan Gibbons) as the stable's sole runner on the final day of the Golden Slipper Festival.

But Lees is banking on rain to soften the Rosehill track, otherwise she will bypass the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m).

. Lees has three acceptors at Saturday's Eagle Farm meeting; Kalapour in the Benchmark 85 Handicap (1805m), Hype in the Class 3 Plate (1400m), and Animate in the Open Handicap (1200m).

Jim Byrne will ride both Kalapour and Animate, and Michael Cahill has the mount on Hype.

"It's a nice race for Kalapour, even though he is up against an odds-on favorite (Santero) in a small field," Lees said.

"He is coming up well, and the step up in distance suits.

"Hype was okay at his first run for me in a 1200m Benchmark 72 Handicap at Warwick Farm on March 1, and has come on nicely since.

"He has an awkward draw, but can be competitive if he gets the right run.

"Animate was good in breaking back into the winning list in a big field at Doomben last month.

"He has to come back from 1350m to 1200m, but hopefully he can run well again."


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