So You Merge is pick of bunch
KRIS Lees is upbeat So You Merge can help punters get the working week off to the perfect start as the Newcastle trainer has even bigger fish to fry later this week.
Lees will saddle up a host of runners at Flemington on Derby Day this Saturday but not before he takes five horses to Tamworth today.
He admits they are a pretty even bunch but he labelled So You Merge (Race 1) the pick of his runners today.
“So You Merge is not far off winning a race,” he said.
“She got run off the track coming to the corner two starts back (at Port Macquarie and then ran third at Muswellbrook last Tuesday).
“She probably wants a touch further than the mile but if she handles the back up (she should go close).
“She is Admiral Jello’s little sister and she gets her chance there.”
Lees (pictured) will also be represented by Hilfiger (Race 2), Amare (Race 3), Seeblume (Race 5) and Hermosa Reward (Race 8) at Tamworth.
Hilfiger finished a close third in a Cessnock Maiden last start and will bid to go two better today.
“He is limited but if he gets over from the gate he might have found his right race,” Lees said.
“It depends what sort of run he gets but he should be able to put himself in the race from the (wide) gate.”
Amare finished a distant seventh first-up at Cessnock and Lees feels she might need one more run before she peaks.
“It was a bit inconclusive first-up and she may take another run and step up in trip but she will improve on her first-up run,” he said.
Seeblume drops back in class after finishing eighth in a 1200m Class 1 at Gosford first-up.
“She was just (OK) first-up but back to country grade is a significant drop in grade and she gets her chance there,” Lees said.
“She gets a bit of weight relief (with the claim) and she should get the run of the race there.”
Hermosa Reward claimed a last start Maiden win at Taree at odds of $26 and Lees is hopeful she can go on with it in today’s Class 1 Handicap (1400m).
“It wasn’t a total shock how she went her previous run where she broke clean and put herself on speed,” he said. “Whether she is good enough to repeat it we will see but she has pleased in the stable.”