Rustic Steel keeps the beat for Lees’ camp
KRISTIE Lees might have taken her cue from the music blaring in the background or the race’s name as she watched her husband, Kris, collect the trainer’s trophy after Rustic Steel’s $2m Big Dance win at Royal Randwick on Tuesday.
“Kris had a lot of pressure with four in the race including the favourite,’’ she said as the David Bowie hit Let’s Dance had the 24,212-strong crowd bursting into song.
“He has been a bit nervous and quiet all week but he will be much more relaxed tonight. He might even let his hair down a bit.
“We have been married 21 years and I don’t think Kris has had a dance since our wedding. Maybe after this, I might be able to get him up for a dance tonight.’’
For Lees, Rustic Steel’s win in the inaugural Big Dance was the culmination of months of planning – and it clearly meant a lot to the champion Newcastle trainer.
“When you target races from May you want everything to go right because we know with horses things can go wrong,’’ Lees said. “I went to Melbourne last Saturday for one runner in the last and it got kicked behind the barrier before the race and was scratched.
“But you have to take the good and the bad in this sport and keep going.’’
Rustic Steel ($12) held off the late charge of Cisco Bay ($9.50) to win by a half head with one-and-a-half lengths to Sibaaq ($6.50 equal favourite). Quality Time was heavily backed into equal favouritism but could finish only eighth.
Lees, flanked by his wife and their daughter, Emerson, admitted they began celebrating a little prematurely when Rustic Steel dashed to the front 200m out.