Lees pair eye Coast
LEADING provincial trainer Kris Lees will launch a two-pronged attack on Australia’s newest race – the $500,000 The Coast – at Gosford’s first stand-alone Saturday meeting.
In 2019 it was announced that Gosford would host the meeting in May 2020 but as a result of the COVID pandemic it was held at Randwick.
With restrictions eased, Gosford is will host the meeting on Saturday.
The program has been substantially upgraded from the 2020 fixture.
The most significant addition is the debut of The Coast, an unrestricted quality handicap over 1600m for three and four-year-old horses.
The Coast’s $500,000 purse is the highest prizemoney ever for a single race at Gosford.
Lees, who is second to Chris Waller in the NSW trainers premiership, will saddle up a four-year-old and a threeyear-old in The Coast – Game Of Thorns and I Say Hello.
Game Of Thorns is the outsider of the pair, a $21 chance with TAB Fixed Odds and comes into the race of a closing fifth in the Provincial Championships Final over 1400m.
“She’s a touch enigmatic,” Lees said. “I don’t know how much you can trust her but when she’s on she’s got a serious last furlong on her.
“She’s capable. She had the best late sectionals in the Provincial Championships (and) she’s drawn to be a pair or two closer with an economical run going up to the mile.
“If she turns up on her game, she isn’t a $20 chance, that’s for sure.”
Jason Collett rides Game Of Thorns while the experienced lightweight Jay Ford takes the seat aboard I Say Hello, a $14 chance with TAB Fixed Odds.
“She’s a really good filly,” Lees said of I Say Hello. “She is on trial at the mile but I think she will run it out.
“I thought about going up north for the Gold Coast Bracelet but in the end, heavy track, 1400m to 1800m, left me thinking if she doesn’t run it out we don’t know where she’s at.”