Trainer Kris Lees bullish on chances of Memoria, Hellavadancer at Randwick on Saturday

Trainer Kris Lees, just returned from a European vacation, is keen to get straight back into winning mode with fresh specialist Memoria at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Top trainer Kris Lees has a strong team for Saturday’s meeting at Royal Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Trainer Kris Lees, fresh from a European vacation, is keen to get straight back into winning mode with a strong team including first-up specialist Memoria for Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The underrated Memoria is resuming in the Randwick closer, the Schweizer Kobras Lawyers Handicap (1000m).

Memoria is unbeaten in three first-up attempts, handles soft track conditions and has trialled impressively leading into her return to racing.

Officially described as a grey-black mare, Memoria has built a good race record with five wins and six placings from her 16 starts.

Lees said Memoria had continued to work well since her good trial effort when a close second to Moonlight Grace at Wyong nearly three weeks ago.

The final race at @gosford_races today belongs to Memoria, and it’s a winning treble for Anna Roper! 🙌@Leesracingpic.twitter.com/2BXVUYrBng

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 10, 2024

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“She might want a touch further than 1000m but she is nice and fresh for this race,” Lees said.

“There’s plenty of speed in this race but from her draw she can stalk the leaders.”

Lees has four entries for the meeting – three raced by Luke Murell and Jamie Lovett’s Australian Bloodstock including Hellavadancer in the I Love 0% Cocktails Handicap (1400m).

Hellavadancer resumed with a game fourth, beaten only a length, behind Kazou at Rosehill two weeks ago.

“I thought Hellavadancer was very good first-up and she’s another that handles the ground. This is a nice race for her,” Lees said.

A photo finish in the last but it's the noted speedster, Kazou, who gets the nod under Benjamin Osmond for @cwallerracing 👊 pic.twitter.com/66uIAYxfnJ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 29, 2024

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Lees and Australian Bloodstock also team up with Sailor in the Elite Sand And Soil Handicap (1600m) and fourth emergency Fulfilled in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1800m).

“Sailor is racing in good form,” Lees enthused. “Whether he is a genuine Saturday horse I don’t know but at this time of the year with the wet ground, he’s a chance. He gets through heavy going well.

“Fulfilled is going better than his form reads but we need some more scratchings for him to get a start.”

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Lees only returned home on Wednesday after holidaying in Germany and Italy.

“We went to watch a Euro match between Denmark and Serbia in Munich,” Lees said.

“The atmosphere was terrific, I love good sport. I’m not a mad soccer fan but it was a great experience.

“We only got home on Wednesday and there is still a bit of jet lag – but it’s back to reality now!”

Lees is also chasing big-race success at Sunshine Coast on Sunday with Luncies in the Listed $300,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m) and the in-form Willinga Beast who is likely to be retired to stud after the Listed $300,000 Glasshouse Handicap (1400m).

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Originally published as Trainer Kris Lees bullish on chances of Memoria, Hellavadancer at Randwick on Saturday