Milseain eyes Cox Plate campaign
Milseain, a full-sister to Hong Kong Champion Werther, is set to start her spring preparation at Royal Randwick in Sydney today, which could potentially result in a tilt at the group one Cox Plate (2040m).
The multiple group placed mare holds a nomination for the weightfor-age feature and will have her first start for trainer Kris Lees in the Nicholas Moraitis Handicap (1400m).
The Tavistock four-year-old joined Lees’ stable two months ago and has pleased her trainer in her two trial starts to date.
“I have been quite pleased with her trials,” Lees said. “She worked home nice and Kerrin McEvoy was quite glowing in his appraisal after her recent trial.
“It’s an awkward gate [13] on Saturday, so we’ll probably ride her fairly conservatively first-up.
“The tracks are pretty firm at the moment, and with the seven metre rail, I wouldn’t think you could win from well back. But I just want to see her work home and set-up for a nice preparation hopefully.
“I’ve been really happy with her since she’s arrived, she’s a nice mare and came over in good order.”
Trained in New Zealand by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Milseain was purchased out of Highden Park’s 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale draft for $300,000 by Sona Bloodstock.
At three, she recorded a win and four group placings in five starts, including a third-placing behind Savvy Coup in the group one New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
Lees doesn’t have any firm plans for Milseain after today’s run, but has thrown in a Cox Plate nomination.
“Four-year-old mares that first time back around you have got to nominate them,” he said.
“Whether they are up to taking that next step time will tell, but we’ll give her that opportunity if she’s good enough.
“I just want to have a look at her [today] given it’s the first time that she has raced for us. So I’ll probably get more of a guide off the run. We’ll likely to continue stepping her up in trip.”
Meanwhile, group one winner Dal Cielo has been dual nominated for today’s Randwick and Gold Coast meetings, but Lees is leaning towards starting his runner in the Matthew Dunn Racing Open Handicap (1200m) on the Gold Coast.
The Per Incanto six-year-old, who won the group one Diamond Stakes (1200m) as a juvenile in New Zealand for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forman, has pleased Lees in his last two runs and he believes Dal Cielo could be back to his winning form of last year.
“He’ll probably go to the Gold Coast and race Saturday,” Lees said. “At this stage he’ll go up there. His last two runs would suggest that he is finally back to his previous preparation after a long layoff, so I’m quite happy with him.
“He’s been up for a fair while now, so we’ll just try and place him and keep earning some more money for the owners.”