Kris Lees targets more Queensland Oaks glory with fillies Bestower, Kind Words and Pier Pressure

Trainer Kris Lees won the Queensland Oaks last year and has no shortage of options for this year’s fillies staying feature.

Trainer Kris Lees has had plenty of luck with three-year-old fillies and believes emerging talent Bestower can thrust herself into Group 1 calculations at Royal Randwick as he plots a two-state Queensland Oaks defence this Saturday.

Lees won last year’s Oaks with Amokura, which lines up in Saturday’s Doomben Cup, with Bestower one of three fillies vying to take their place in this year’s main event.

It will be a juggling act for the Newcastle trainer with Pier Pressure and Kind Words both ready to stake their claims at Doomben.

Bestower, currently a $26 chance for the Oaks, can book her float to the Sunshine State in the Wilson Asset Management Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m).

“Bestower would need to win, or second might get her enough prizemoney to get into the Queensland Oaks, but we will know more next week,” Lees said.

“I thought she ran really well the other day and is probably looking a bit further than the 1800m now.

“She looks in good order and could easily be competitive in a race like that.”

⚓︎ Naval Commission wins the TAB Handicap at Randwick Kensington for @nashhot and @cmaherracing! @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/TFyWVcEraa

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 15, 2024

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Stable apprentice Dylan Gibbons will pilot Bestower ($7.50) as she attempts to boost her already competitive record of two wins and two placings from five starts.

Lees put the Oaks on the agenda for Bestower after just her second start in January when the daughter of Contributor stylishly broke her maiden in a 1412m event at Taree.

“She showed us just enough in that maiden back in January that we would put her away,” he said.

“She still hand to show improvement and she appears to be doing that.

“Whether she gets there or not we will see.”

Stablemates Pier Pressure ($126) and Kind Winds ($18) are both in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m), with the latter – originally the second emergency – securing a start after the scratchings of Socks Nation and Bright Red.

Kind Words was most recently seen when running home for third behind Amazonian Lass and Molly Bloom in the Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at the Sunshine Coast – a race in which Pier Pressure had a wide run and faded for a 12-length 14 of 15.

The Listed Gold Coast Bracelet goes to Amazonian Lass! @[e-mail]/0828s9wmSK

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 11, 2024

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“Pier Pressure did have a wet track profile but was plain late at the Sunshine Coast,” Lees said.

“I am happy to forgive again and give her a chance against pretty much the same bunch of horses.”

Lees has applied the blinkers to Amokura in the Doomben Cup and believes she’s capable of turning her form around in the Group 1.

Amokura won last year’s Queensland Oaks for Kris Lees. Picture: Grant Peters – Trackside Photography

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Closer to home, Lees will unleash a potential Group 1 contender of the future with Lloyd Williams-owned galloper Point King ($11) to have his first Australian start at Randwick.

The son of Zoffany was trained by Joseph O’Brien before moving over to Lees this year with a long-term view of targeting Australia’s Cups.

Gibbons will put him through his paces in the PF Civil Equipment Benchmark 88 Handicap (2000m).

“Point King gives the impression that he has settled in well and I have seen nothing to suggest he hasn’t,” Lees said.

“He may find them a bit sharp at 2000m as his form would read but he is a nice enough horse that could make his presence felt over the winter.

“No doubt they’ve brought him out with the Cups in mind but he gets in well at the benchmark here.

“He still has to carry 60kg but it reads like a nice starting point for his preparation.”

A colt firmly on the upgrade - Point King completes a hat-trick in the Listed Jockey Club of Turkey (@_TJK_) Vinnie Roe Stakes @LeopardstownRC, scoring in good style under @ShaneCrosse for the @JosephOBrien2 team 👏 pic.twitter.com/J4A50dlEN7

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 11, 2022

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Stablemate Thundering Soul holds a nomination for the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes and will attempt to bounce back in the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation 2YO Open (1200m).

The Spirit Of Boom colt didn’t go a yard in heavy conditions first up from as spell but is a $34 chance to atone.

“Thundering Soul was poor but you have to be forgiving of any horse that was first time on a heavy surface on that track,” Lees said.

“He travelled but as soon as he came off the bridle he floundered in the ground.

“Whether that means he can turn that around in a pretty strong race, we will have to see.

“We’ve applied blinkers and he’s pleased in his work and I could easily see him running a race.”

Lees also has Mo’s Crown returning from a spell at Randwick.

Originally published as Kris Lees targets more Queensland Oaks glory with fillies Bestower, Kind Words and Pier Pressure