Newcastle, Queanbeyan previews: Dettori set to put his best foot forward

Star quartet are quietly confident their giant gelding Dettori is ready show just what he’s capable of.

Trainers Jim (left) and Greg Lee (right) have a good opinion of Dettori who is first-up at Newcastle.

High Street’s Fab Four of Jimmy Cassidy, Neville Voigt, Jim and Greg Lee will lift the roof off Hayai Lodge if their hulking gelding ­Dettori puts his best forward here.

“He is the biggest horse you’ll see tomorrow (Tuesday),” co-trainer Greg Lee said. “He’s 17 hands and a real long-bodied horse with a long stride.”

Dettori was $61 when he made his debut in a 1200m maiden at Kembla in late November last year.

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Louise Day (pictured) will partner Dettori and Ladies’ Gem on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

The hulking New Zealander finished last but is different now in more ways than one.

“He had a wind operation and he’s over that now,” Lee said. “I don’t get too many operations done on horses but I thought this horse showed a little bit above-average ability so I got it done and it looks like it worked.

“Both his trials have been good and he has come on a lot since. He looks like a horse that will run a mile to 2000m so we are hoping he will run very well on Tuesday.

“He needs a little bit further but being Newcastle, long straight, 1250m, that’s all you want to go with him at this stage if you are going to keep him up.”

Dettori is a son of Ego, whose six wins included the Group 2 Concorde Stakes at Ellerslie. His dam Pursuit Of Joy is a daughter of Bob Thomsen’s Stradbroke winner Thorn Park and granddaughter of 1980 NZ Oaks winner Starline.

“Dettori was bought in New Zealand as a weanling by a nice bloke named Roger Smith, who I bought Tiera Rist off quite a few years back now,” Lee said.

While those at Hayai Lodge are guardedly optimistic about Dettori, they are bullish about his Newcastle-bound stablemate Ladies’ Gem.

Winona Costin rides Painite for Jim and Greg Lee. Picture: Getty Images

“He is primed to win,” Lee said. “I only wanted to run him in a 1400m first-up because we had a little setback with him, then he got balloted out and was forced to run at a mile when he wasn’t fit enough.

“He ran good up until the corner and then his condition gave out. He strips a lot fitter on Tuesday and if it rains, he’ll be hard to beat.”

Ladies’ Gem has been an on-going source of fun and funds for his female ownership group, which has cheered the son of Helmet to six wins and 15 placings in 50 starts.

Ladies’ Gem could use some old-fashioned lady luck given he has barrier 12 but he may not need it.

“He will make his own luck from there,” Lee said. “He has plenty of (gate) speed and he’s honest enough.”

The Lees, who are both desperate for their old boss Les Bridge to win his second Everest on Saturday, saddle up the lightly raced Painite in the opener with in-form jockey Winona Costin aboard.

“Painite has been a bit of a barrier rogue but if she gets away cleanly, she should run all right,” Lee said. “She shows that she has ability and Winona will suit her.”

CLEAR HAS S SPRING IN HIS STEP AS HE AIMS TOWARDS QUEANBEYAN CUP

Joe Cleary has his sights set on winning his fourth Queanbeyan Cup when it comes around next month with the Gerry Harvey-bred gelding Subtly Spring.

The son of Onemorenomore will line-up for a fifth straight time at Queanbeyan in Tuesday’s Premier Rider & Apprentice 20-21 Ellen Hennessy Handicap over 1460m.

“He was one of ‘Uncle Gerry’s’ and (racing manager) Luke McDonald rang me and said this horse is on the market and he’d suit you,” Cleary said. “He’s had four runs for us now for three wins so he’s been a great little money-spinner.

“Probably a couple of negatives on Tuesday - 62kg and back to the 1460m - but at the end of the day he is racing really well.

“His long term plan this preparation is the Queanbeyan Cup in November. He is owned by a few of my mates who I used to play footy with and Matty Griffin who runs the top pub here in Queanbeyan,” Cleary said.

“I’ve won three now and had five seconds, it’s always good to win your hometown Cup.”

The stakes might be a bit lower there on Tuesday but there is another that Cleary would dearly love to win for obvious reasons.

Jake Pracey-Holmes takes the ride on Subtly Spring at Queanbeyan on Wednesday.

The Raiders tragic saddles-up the Sepoy gelding Big Baz in the Premier Trainer 20-21 Joe Cleary Maiden Handicap (1400m).

This race has turned into an annual feature given the incredible frequency of Premiership wins for Cleary.

His tally is up to nine now but still five short of his legendary father - Frank.

“Big Baz is a family horse,” Cleary explained. “I bought for my girls and my wife is in the ownership as well. I only paid twelve grand for him.

“I just liked him. He was a big dopey looking (horse) who just needed a bit of time and a bit of ground.

“It really looks the perfect race for him on paper. I think he’ll have his birthday (today).”

Cleary is a red-hot chance to win the first three races on the card with Bring It Bella in the third leg.

“She’s flying,” Cleary said. “The negative is 61.5kg but she has come on again since she won.

“She’s telling she had to go to the races and she’s probably the pick on mine of Tuesday.”

Originally published as Newcastle, Queanbeyan previews: Dettori set to put his best foot forward