Trainer Kris Lees confident Coolmore filly Lutetia can take next step at Randwick on Saturday

Coolmore filly Lutetia will give trainer Kris Lees a guide of whether she can play a part in the spring when she puts her unbeaten record on the line at Royal Randwick this Saturday.

Promising Coolmore filly Lutetia wins at Newcastle on July 13. Picture: Bradley Photos

Coolmore filly Lutetia will give trainer Kris Lees a guide of whether she can play a part in the spring when she puts her unbeaten record on the line at Royal Randwick this Saturday.

Lutetia will be put to the test when the lightly-raced talent faces off against a promising bunch of juveniles in the final Saturday two-year-old race of the season.

The daughter of Justify comes to town following an impressive debut win at Newcastle on debut with Lees keen to see where Lutetia measures up in the coming weeks.

“By running her now, it gives us the option to see if they can take that next step or otherwise she would be back in the paddock,” Lees said.

“But if she can get to those better credentialed races with some race fitness, you may have a little advantage over the more seasoned horses returning.”

Three winners today from local trainers on Pink Race Day. Lutetia (@Leesracing) took out race 3, the @samkavracing trained Sukida won race 4 and Amassadors (@ndoyleracing) ended the day well winning race 9. Congratulations to all the winning connections! 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/nBuPHNPuCV

— Newcastle Racecourse (@newcastleraces_) July 13, 2024

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Regan Bayliss has been tasked with riding Lutetia ($18) in Ranvet 2YO Open Handicap (1100m).

The emerging youngster is dropping back 100m in trip from her debut assignment where she sat outside the lead and exploded away to win with a bit in hand.

“Lutetia won well on debut and I think the race will hold up form-wise,” Lees said.

“It is probably not ideal coming back in trip on Saturday but there are limited options.

“I think she is one that will cope with that.

“We hadn’t planned to lead the other day and I think she is one that will be able to take a sit depending how the race sets up.”

Lees has four runners on the Saturday card with Bubba’s Bay ready to make her return in the Kia Ora Prague Benchmark 88 Handicap (1100m).

Bubba’s Bay ($6) put together three straight wins over 1200m in Queensland before heading for a spell in April.

The last race at Eagle Farm goes to Bubba's Bay, giving @baileywheeler05 three winners for the day!@[e-mail]/warojtw5la

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 6, 2024

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“She is probably a mare that improves into her preparation but she has had a couple of nice trials and looks well,” Lees said.

“She will run well and continue to improve throughout the preparation I would suggest.“

“If she can run well on Saturday, we will give her a chance in a stakes race at some stage otherwise we will move north back up to her Queensland stable.”

Stablemate Blackcomb ($9) is ready to run a big race in the James Squire Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m) while Fulfilled ($21) should appreciate drier ground in the ATC Thank You Owners Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m).

Originally published as Trainer Kris Lees confident Coolmore filly Lutetia can take next step at Randwick on Saturday