Newcastle trainer Lees looks north

LEADING Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is to increase his Queensland presence with a Gold Coast stable.

He has gradually increased his runners in the state this season and is sixth on the metropolitan premiership with five winners.

Lees (pictured) plans to have as many as 20 horses running out of a Gold Coast satellite stable by the new year.

The team will be managed by friend and Gold Coast trainer Mel Eggleston.

“Things have been going well and Kris is keen to send the right horses up here for the right races,” Eggleston said.

Eggleston was a foreman for Lees’ father, Max, in Newcastle before taking out his own licence. He moved to the Gold Coast in 2003.

Sydney trainer Chris Waller has a major Gold Coast stable.

Victorian trainer Mark Webb, who has a stable at Cranbourne, is also keen to open a satellite stable, possibly at Caloundra.

His stable manager Slim Homann said Webb, who regularly races horses in Queensland, was keen to come north “with a truckload of horses” as soon as stables could be found.