Valeria’s best shot for Lees
KRIS Lees has labelled Valeria the pick of his four Gosford runners and is upbeat the impressive debut winner can take the big jump to a Class 2 today.
Valeria was well backed into an odds-on favourite on debut at Newcastle and didn’t disappoint when she overcame minor trouble early in the straight to score by 1¼ lengths.
Lees has taken her straight to a Fillies And Mares Class 2 Handicap (1100m) today but is confident she is up to the task.
“It was a good debut and it is a big step to a Class 2 but she has trained on well and she is a nice filly,” he said.
“She is certainly up to that grade.
“She had the nice run behind them and then got held up momentarily (at the top of the straight) but once she got clear she let down well.
“She trialled well leading into that and she has shown us a bit.
“I think she will race well (again today).”
Valeria has drawn barrier eight and Lees said the Lonhro filly would be allowed to find her feet early.
“We will probably ride her a little bit more conservatively compared to first-up when she drew barrier one,” Lees said.
Valeria will face stiff opposition from Shantou and Lisdoonvarna.
Trainer Amanda Turner was still deciding yesterday whether to run Lisdoonvarna at Gosford today or wait for a race at Hawkesbury tomorrow instead.
“She is really racing well and at this stage we are still in two minds,” Turner said yesterday. “There is a bit of depth to the race at Gosford but I’m really happy with her and I would have loved to have run her at Kembla on Melbourne Cup Day but her blood just wasn’t right and I didn’t want to take a risk.
“Each run she seems to be getting better and better and she is moulding into a nice horse now.
“I took her blood again last week and I’m really happy with her now and I just have to put her in the right race,” she added.
Meanwhile, along with Valeria, Lees will also saddle up Chalmers (Race 4), potentially Heat Haze (Race 5) and Mr Tindall (Race 7) at Gosford today.
“Chalmers was narrowly beaten first up and he just needs to get over all right from his gate and if he did that, he would be a chance,” Lees said.