Lees Keeps A Lid On Graff Expectations

3 minute read

Trainer Kris Lees will be thrilled if his promising youngster Graff can rise to the heights achieved by past runners in Hawkesbury’s feature two-year-old race, the $125,000 Clarendon Stakes.

Saturday’s Clarendon Stakes often uncovers a young horse of the future, no better example being the 2013 winner Zoustar.

Zoustar went on to clinch two G1 victories before being retired to stud as the winner of six of his nine starts.

In 2008 Fravashi won the Clarendon Stakes at his second start then won the G2 QTC Sires Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm and another two Group races in Sydney and Melbourne before retiring as the winner of five of his 10 appearances.

Other notable winners of the Clarendon Stakes include Royal Discretion, who returned 12 months later to win the Hawkesbury Guineas, Kanzan, Villa Splendido, Meursault and Swear, who was G1 placed in the Spring Champion Stakes.

There is a lot pre-race hype surrounding Graff but Lees is keeping a lid on his expectations for the colt despite his impressive win at his only start at Rosehill over 1100m on April 2.

Since his Rosehill victory, the Star Witness colt drew further praise when he swept along the inside rail to win a 1040m barrier trial at Randwick on April 16 without being pushed out.

“I sent Graff to Sydney to trial because of the gap of nearly four weeks between runs,” Lees explained.

“He is a nice horse who has needed some time and I like him but you want to see them string two or three wins together first before you start getting carried away.”

Graff, a $200,000 yearling purchase, carries the Schillaci and Grand Armee colours of successful owner Alan Bell.

He will be amongst Lees’ Brisbane winter carnival entries when they close next week if he races well tomorrow with his mission likely to be the G1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Doomben on June 9.

“I’m sure he will manage a mile,” Lees said. “The 1300m at Hawkesbury is definitely going to suit him better than the 1100m of his first win at Rosehill.”

Trainer Chris Waller will oppose Graff with Orcein after deciding not to send the youngster to Brisbane for Saturday’s Listed Dalrello Stakes (1200m).

Orcein has been placed at two of his three starts and has trialled twice recently, the latest behind Graff at Randwick when he was unable to obtain clear running in the straight and went to the line untested.

Waller has chosen to take blinkers off Orcein and will instead race him in a tongue tie.

Lees has two other Hawkesbury runners – Articus (Jean Van Overmeire) and Hallelujah Boy (Jason Collett) – but has withdrawn Danish Twist from the G3 Godolphin Crown (1300m) because of her wide barrier.

He has opted not to send Japanese import Hallelujah Boy to Brisbane for a race at Doomben on Saturday.

“The 1500m at Hawkesbury will suit him,” Lees said.

“He was strong late when fourth in the Provincial Championships Final at Randwick a fortnight ago. He’s getting close to his first Australian win.”