Miss Fraser gets chance
GOLD COAST
MANAGER Mel Eggleston will look to add a second win of the season for Kris Lees’ Gold Coast stable when Miss Fraser makes her debut at Aquis Park today.
The four-year-old mare will race over 2200m for the first time when she tackles the opening Maiden of the program after placing third over 1750m and 1700m at country NSW meetings in the past month.
Newcastle-based Lees sent Miss Fraser to his Eggleston-run Gold Coast satellite stable before her latest run and the local trainer said her first race in Queensland could be the one to deliver a victory.
“The run the other day at Grafton was good and she has come along nicely after that,” Eggleston said.
“That run has done her a world of good and she has (jockey) Dan Griffin on her who won't slow her down.
“This race will suit her better than the 1700m.
“She will be able to get into a nice rhythm and Kris seems to think she will run the trip.
“I only had her for a couple of days before we took her to Grafton (on November 7) and her work has been good. I can’t fault her.”
Eggleston said Miss Fraser, who will jump from barrier six, shared the same form as another Lees Gold Coast-based horse, Proud Captain, who won over 2200m at Ipswich a fortnight ago and has been placed in the other four of her past five starts.
“She should acquit herself quite well,” Eggleston said.
Lees is fifth in the Australian trainers premiership with 75 winners since August. He boasts the best strike rate (20.20%) of any of the top five trainers in the country.