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Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Lees pondering Magic Millions assault with The Ingham winner Loch Eagle

Trainer Kris Lees had a red letter day on Saturday and his in-form galloper Loch Eagle could be bound for Queensland.

Mitch Cohen
5 min read
December 10, 2023 - 10:39AM
Loch Eagle was an impressive winner of The Ingham. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images
Loch Eagle was an impressive winner of The Ingham. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Trainer Kris Lees will contemplate a Magic Millions assault with Loch Eagle after the talented galloper’s brilliant Group 2 The Ingham win headlined a sensational day for the stable on Saturday.

Loch Eagle earned Doncaster Mile ballot exemption when scoring the biggest victory of his career in the $2m event at Royal Randwick as Lees chalked up a winning treble in Sydney while scoring a pair of wins at Eagle Farm.

Stablemates Brudenell and Zoe’s Promise both got on the board at Randwick while Dream Hour booked his spot in next year’s Stradbroke Handicap by claiming The Gateway in Queensland.

Willinga Freefall also saluted in the Sunshine State to complete a stellar day for the Newcastle-based conditioner.

“You just have to place them right on the right day and it all fell the right way,” Lees said.

“There is something to look forward to next year with those two horses (Loch Eagle) and Dream Hour.

“He is a horse that has always threatened to do that and first time with blinkers he let down really well.”

Loch Eagle’s win in The Ingham was extra special for Lees as it came in combination with his star apprentice Dylan Gibbons.

It’s the biggest victory the trainer and his pupil have chalked up together after previously combining for a pair of Listed wins.

Lees is now set to consider another feature tilt with Loch Eagle, which could be targeted at the $1m Magic Millions Cup (1400m) on January 13 at the Gold Coast.

“We will digest it now,” Lees said.

“We were going to go up there and he is a Magic Millions horse.

“I thought we would go to the 1400m race up there but now he has got a ticket to the Doncaster, it may be a case of just focusing on the that.”

Lees also had additional features in mind for both of his other winners on the Randwick card.

Brudenell, a strong all the way winner of the Aloha Strawberry Hill Stud Benchmark 88 Handicap, will be targeted at a stakes assignment on New Year’s Day.

“There is a stakes race at Canterbury (Listed Canterbury Sprint) in four weeks time because he races well there,” Lees said.

Zoe’s Promise is poised to target the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford on December 28.

The mare scored her first win for Lees in the Jack Ingham AO Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m) and completing a winning treble for premiership leading rider Nash Rawiller.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

TERRA MATER (race 4)

She lived up to her favouritism with a sensational turn of speed when she got clear air to make it back-to-back victories. You can follow her through the grades.

NYMPHADORA (race 5)

How this filly finished third in the Inglis Nursery, I will never know. She couldn’t keep up at the top of the straight before sprouting wings late for third.

PERFECT THOUGHT (race 8)

The John Sargent-trained galloper misfired in the spring but made an ominous return in the Razor Sharp. Look forward to him stepping up in trip this preparation.

SINAWANN (race 8)

He had to make the widest run in the Razor Sharp and was one of the best late. He won’t go around at $41 next time.

ARISTONOUS (race 9)

Reckon this import is a Group quality galloper and his return certainly didn’t change that opinion. He surged home nicely in a leader dominated race to finish alongside the first two.

STEWARDS SAY

Step Aside (race 2): Copped interference when Runwiththetide shifted in at the 500m before a successful protest saw the gelding promoted to second. Apprentice Zac Lloyd was suspended for his role in the incident.

Associate (race 3): Was severely hampered and crowded onto Rapbidash when McKeon shifted out. McKeon’s jockey Kerrin McEvoy was suspended for careless riding.

Cashaway Gold (race 5): Displaying heat stress, coughing and discharge from both nostrils post-race. Will need vets clearance to race again.

I’mintowin (race 6): Raced keenly before Tim Clark reported the gelding failed to run out a strong 2000m. A post-race examination found no abnormalities.

Devil’s Throat (race 10): Was found to have bled in both nostrils for the first time. He is barred from racing for three months.

CRUNCH TIME

Mosgold (race 1): Did the damage between 1000m to the 600m with sectionals of 11.27 and 11.33 seconds. Was clocked off late, running the last furlong in 12.67.

Nymphadora (race 5): Last under the turn and under the stick, she grew wings late to finish third. Her last 600m of 34.22 seconds was the slickest of the race including a 11.70 split late.

Aristonous (race 9): He had too much to do to round up the leaders but surged home to finish close up he third. He ran 35.09 seconds for the last 600m including a 11.24 closing split.

Iowna Merc (race 10): Went back from a wide gate before running home with the fastest last 600m of the meeting. He clocked 33.44 seconds with a 10.83 split between the 400m and 200m.

TRACK TALK

“At 7.29am he hadn’t gained a start and he was just about to have a gallop because he was going to prepare for a race next Saturday.” Kris Lees on Loch Eagle.

“Provided she pulls up well, we will go to the Belle Of The Turf and we will give her a chance in stakes company,” Lees on Zoe’s Promise.

“I can’t teach him because he won’t listen.” Nash Rawiller to Zac Lloyd.

“I think he is in for a pretty bright future.” Tyler Schiller on Odinson.

“He’s the best two-year-old I’ve ever had I think.” Neil Osborne on Beer Baron.

YOU CAN BET ON IT

Odinson carried only 8% of the money and was as much as $6.50 before winning the Inglis Nursery at $5. A $1,000 bet was taken at $6.

The Ingham winner Loch Eagle only held 2% of outlays but there were a few decent each-way bets after being tightened into $23. The best straight out was $700 @ $23 with the best each-way $500 @ $34/$9.

Recommendation was pretty solid around the $5 mark all week having opened at $5.50 and trading at $4.80 in the lead up. TAB took multiple $2,000 outlays at $5 and several $1,500 at $4.80.

THE SCHEDULE

Monday: Orange, Tuncurry

Tuesday: Tamworth, Wagga Riverside

Wednesday: Wyong

Thursday: Kembla Grange

Friday: Canterbury Park, Goulburn, Murwillumbah, Warren

Saturday: Royal Randwick, Beaumont Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Moree, Albury

Sunday: Moruya, Coonamble

RON DUFFICY’S RANDWICK SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY

Terra Mater is still low down in the ratings but is doing a great job looking the part.

She was quite dominant here making it two straight in town this preparation and is up at the right time of year for her.

FORGET THEY RAN.

Step Aside went around a solid favourite in race 2 and after finding interference at the 500m mark and being hampered down the straight can be marked unlucky.

THE BLACK BOOK

The French Import Aristonous resumed in his second Aussie preparation and caught the eye charging into 3rd place.

He looks a real progressive horse moving forward over ground.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Dylan Gibbons had a nice day with a winning double.

Dylan kept his cool from a very wide draw in The Ingham on Loch Eagle keeping him balanced midfield with cover and the horse did the rest.

Originally published as Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Lees pondering Magic Millions assault with The Ingham winner Loch Eagle

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