Kris Lees to unleash latest two-year-old prospect with ‘nice filly’ Odaka

Kris Lees has already had a win and a second with two-year-olds in recent weeks and is hoping for another good result at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Kris Lees rates Odaka on a similar level to the promising juveniles he’s already produced this season and hopeful the unraced filly can make her mark at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Lees has unleashed debut winner Rivellino and fast-finishing runner-up Damien in Saturday metropolitan races in recent weeks.

Rivellino is a $6 second elect for the $2m Inglis Millennium in two weeks while Damien has been sent for a break.

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Odaka can put herself in the frame for higher honours when she makes her debut in the The Agency Real Estate 2YO Open Handicap (1000m).

“She wouldn’t look out of place against some of the horses we’ve already exposed and ran this season,” Lees said.

“She has natural speed and a good attitude.

“I must say she is not furnished into the full product but she is a nice filly.”

Odaka is yet to taste defeat in either of her public appearances, winning a pair of trials on home turf at Newcastle in the lead-up to her first start.

2YO filly Odaka (Ole Kirk @VineryStud x Ballet Rose) races clear to post trial success on her first outing in Heat 7 @newcastleraces_ 🌟

T: @Leesracing
J: Andrew Gibbons
Br: Encompass International, @kiaorastud, W Duck(Aust), Werrett Bloodstock pic.twitter.com/7gboNzTFKr

— TTR AusNZ (@TTRAusNZ) December 30, 2024

Lees has been happy with what the daughter of Golden Rose winner Ole Kirk has shown to date but admits it’s hard to assess how she will measure up against

“She is a nice filly and is still a bit raw as you can see in her trials,” Lees said.

“She has trialled up well.

“I think she has come on well and should run a respectable race on what she has shown.

“It’s hard to measure her up with some many first starters and they are probably starting to get that little bit stronger.

“It’s hard because provincial trial form can be a touch misleading and it’s hard to get a strong line until raceday but she will be competitive.”

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In-form jockey Chad Schofield will pilot Odaka ($18) in her debut assignment with Godolphin youngster Beiwacht ($3.80) battling for favouritism with Chris Waller’s million-dollar baby United States ($3.70 favourite).

Lees also had Newy among the acceptors for the two-year-old event but elected to take the softer option and send the son of Flying Artie to the Gold Coast instead.

Imposant ($4.80) will give Lees one of his best chances to have a winning day in town when the daughter of Epaulette hunts a well-earned breakthrough in the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale 9-11 Feb Benchmark 72 (1400m).

Imposant (right) is chasing a well-earned win. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

It’s been a good preparation for the four-year-old despite not adding another win to her resume after finishing runner-up at her first two runs back from a break.

“She gets to Randwick and a good gate (barrier one), so she is certainly gets her chance,” Lees said.

“She got further back then probably anticipated the other day but she still was good late.

“I think they ran good time but I am was happy with her performance.”

Multiple city winner Hellavadancer ($21) makes her return from a spell in the Ranvet Benchmark 78 (1200m).

Lees will use stable apprentice Ben Osmond’s 3kg claim to get his classy mare in with 58.5kg and expects Hellavadancer to improve off the first-up showing.

“Hellavadancer I am expecting might just need the run but she is coming up well,” Lees said.

‘In a perfect world there would be a bit of rain around but she hasn’t got that yet.

“She has to start somewhere and this is a nice starting point.”

Hellavadancer returns at Royal Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Lees believes Almania ($19) is getting closer to full fitness while stablemate Zaphod ($5) is ready to run a big race in the Complete Freight Services Benchmark 88 Handicap (2000m).

Valimi was scratched from the Drinkwise Mile with Lees sending the imported gelding to the Sunshine Coast instead to tackle the The X3 Coastline BMW Class 3 Plate (1600m) where he is a $6 hope.

Inver Park ($8.50) is one of the leading chances in the Listed $160,000 Sunshine Coast Cup (1600m) with Andrew Mallyon aboard.

Mallyon booted home the son of Pivotal over 14000m at the same venue last month with Inver Park boasting a perfect two from two record at the venue.

Originally published as Kris Lees to unleash latest two-year-old prospect with ‘nice filly’ Odaka