Adelaide River to make winter cameo in McKell Cup at Rosehill before Kris Lees turns focus to spring

Group 1 placegetter Adelaide River missed the entire Sydney carnival due to a setback but is back for a one-run winter mission at Rosehill Gardens.

Kris Lees import Adelaide River returns this weekend after missing the autumn carnival. Picture: Getty Images

Trainer Kris Lees is taking a one-and-done approach with classy import Adelaide River this winter as he looks to use Saturday’s Listed $200,000 W J McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens as a launching pad to the spring.

Adelaide River, a former Aidan O’Brien-trained galloper that’s raced by Melbourne Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams, was forced to miss Sydney’s autumn carnival due to bone bruising.

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The 2023 Irish Derby runner-up came into Lees’ yard last year and has so far had five starts for the stable without a win.

But Adelaide River showed a glimpse of his talent at his last start in October when finishing fourth in behind Deny Knowledge in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m).

Lees is hoping the son of Australia can measure up at an elite level again this spring ahead of his highly-anticipated return this weekend.

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“We will only give him this one run and then back off him until the spring,” Lees said.

“He has had a long time off and seems to be coming up well.

“He was taking a little bit to acclimatise with a bit of bone bruising but it’s settle down and he seems to have responded well.”

Adelaide River has been well-prepared for his first-up assignment with a pair of trials victories in the lead-up, including a 6½-length success at Wyong over 1200m on June 16.

But Lees is wary of tackling a 2000m event fresh from a break.

“In an ideal world, if there was a mile race on he would have been in it but he is a mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-a-half horse,” Lees said.

“He has trialled nicely.

“It looks to be a nice race for him.”

Loch Eagle will stretch out to 2000m in the Listed McKell Cup. Picture: Getty Images

• Gollan marching towards another training milestone

Lees is prepared to give in-form galloper Loch Eagle another chance over 2000m following his strong second-up victory over the Royal Randwick mile last time.

The son of Lonhro has only raced once previously over more than 1800m when he finished near the rear over 2200m at Magic Millions on the Gold Coast.

“Loch Eagle won at 1800m quite well last preparation but when he got to the Sunshine Coast he had had enough,” Lees said.

“He is going well so we thought we’d give him a try in this kind of race.”

Apprentice Ben Osmond will pilot Loch Eagle while Jay Ford is aboard Adelaide River.

Lees is hunting his second McKell Cup after winning the race with Frankely Awesome in 2020.

Originally published as Adelaide River to make winter cameo in McKell Cup at Rosehill before Kris Lees turns focus to spring