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Kris Lees will saddle up a handy team of runners at Rosehill on Saturday including fillies Devil In A Dress and Soapy Star.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Lees will travel five horses to Rosehill from his Newcastle base on Saturday with four of them coming off last start wins.
While facing stiffer opposition than on debut, Devil In A Dress stays under notice in the lucrative Inglis Classic (1200m) after her clear cut debut success at Scone.
“Her opposition was questionable that day at Scone but nonetheless she did a fair bit wrong and was still dominant at the finish so she is certainly going the right way,” Lees said.
Devil In A Dress settled worse than midfield and rattled home for a 2.5 length win.
The filly has since won a Wyong barrier trial over 800m where Lees equipped the daughter of Strada with blinkers.
She will wear the gear for the first time under race conditions on Saturday.
“I thought she did too much wrong her first start so we trialled her last Tuesday with Blinkers and she responded quite well so she will wear them on Saturday,” Lees told RSN.
The Nick Moraitis-owned Strada filly will jump from barrier 11 under the guidance of Christian Reith.
Connections will be hopeful their consistent filly Soapy Star can collect another Inglis bonus cheque when lining up in Saturday's Benchmark 74 3YO Handicap.
Soapy Star has been given a brief let up after she claimed an Inglis Bonus event at Moonee Valley last month.
The Broadmeadow-based horseman has been pleased with the filly since her return to New South Wales and expects another forward showing from her on Saturday.
“She came through the win in good order,” Lees said.
“She came back and had a freshen up and then trialled last Tuesday. She pleased in a gallop this Tuesday so all being well I think she should be very competitive again.”
Just a $12,000 purchase at the 2011 Inglis Scone Select Yearling Sale, a win on Saturday combined with bonuses would see the fillies career prizemoney earnings exceed $400,000.
It will be Soapy Star's 12th career start having already amassed a career record of five wins and four minor placings.
Owned by the same connections, Project Compassion will look to continue her rise through the grades in a fillies and mares Benchmark 80 Handicap (1300m).
Another cheap Inglis purchase, just $5000 as a weanling, Project Compassion goes into Saturday's event off of a career best win at the track on New Years Day.
“She won on New Years Day,” Lees said.
“She is up in grade but she is certainly up to weekend level now.”
Ex Peter Snowden-trained galloper Whitlam rounds out Lees' quartet of last start winners racing at Rosehill on Saturday.
Whitlam resumed in winning order when taking out a similar Benchmark 80 Handicap at this course and trip on December 15.
Stable veteran Motspur will look to improve on a sound Carrington Stakes effort first up in the Benchmark 95 Handicap (1400m) to conclude the day at Rosehill.
“It was a very nice run first up just behind the placegetters in the Carrington Stakes,” Lees said.
“He just couldn't quite pick up the leaders.
“He has come through that in good order and his worked has pleased since.”