Newcastle preview: Trainer Kris Lees is on the hunt for a clean sweep of his home track features

Kris Lees has won the Newcastle Cup, Tibbie Stakes and Cameron Handicap but never on the same day, something that could change with a bit of luck on Friday.

Luncies is chasing victory in the Newcastle Cup. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography

Broadmeadow immortal Kris Lees has won the ‘Big 3’ at Newcastle before, but never on the same day.

That could change this week.

Lees saddles-up at least one runner in the three features namely Luncies in the Newcastle Gold Cup, Hellavadancer in the Tibbie Stakes and the talented trio Loch Eagle, Ucalledit and Kinloch in the time-honoured Cameron Handicap, a race which his legendary father Max won in 1977 with Luskin Star.

Lees’ Cup candidate Luncies has become a virtual fixture on Cup Day having raced at the corresponding meetings every year since 2021.

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Luncies makes a meal of them in the Group 3 Tattersall's Cup! 🏆 @Leesracingpic.twitter.com/Y5eshgSsw7

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 24, 2023

The last two years the grey has kicked off his respective spring campaign in the Cameron Handicap but his 2024 mission is the 2300m Newcastle Cup.

“He ran in the Rowley Mile and they were a bit sharp for him there but he bounced back to form in the Wyong Cup,” Lees said.

“He was able to take up a more forward position and he reacted well and has maintained his form at home so he should run there.

“I think he is a better horse on top of the ground but I don’t think he wants it too firm. That’s the little concern, it is very windy here (on Thursday) so the track could get a little bit fast but we’re pleased with how he is going.

“Barrier one is an advantage because he can just bounce and hold a position in the first four going to the post and Josh (Parr) seems to ride him well.

“He doesn’t win out of turn but he is consistent and he has banked plenty of cheques for the owners.”

Lees’ Cameron Handicap triumvirate have won 22 races between them, 10 of which belong to the former Kiwi-housed galloper Ucalledit.

Take a bow @djgibbons22!

The gun apprentice rides a four-timer at Randwick, taking out the Winter Stakes with Ucalledit for @Leesracing who trains the quinella. pic.twitter.com/GOFUL6e7z2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 8, 2023

A fourth generation son of the Colin Hayes’ champion sprinting mare, Special, Ucalledit has been faithfully mixing it with the likes of Ceolwulf and Tom Kitten at his first two runs in the 2024/25 season.

“I reckon he is my better chance in the race,” Lees said.

“His two runs have certainly been a pass mark, at least.

“If you look at his form, you would say 1400m is the ideal trip for him. That said, I thought his previous run in good company would suggest that third run in, he is going to run to his best.”

Loch Eagle, meanwhile, a $1.8 million winning son of Lonhro resumed with an eye-catching run in the Missile before his forgivable Tramway failure in a 1.20.41 seconds Randwick 1400m.

“They just went too fast for him. He was off the bridle chasing a long way from home,” Lees said.

“He is more a handicap style of horse and provided they are making ground, he’ll run well.

“He could easily bounce to back to form, he has a history of doing that.

“Kinloch was okay at Goulburn (in the Cup). It was hard to come from where he was.

“He’s come on well. He probably doesn’t want any further than 1500m but I think he’ll get a fast tempo on Friday and he raced well here as well.”

TERRA MATER PRIMED FOR TIBBIE STAKES ASSAULT

Trainer Jarrod Austin has sounded an ominous warning ahead of the Group 3 Tibbie Plate (1400m) by declaring his mighty mare Terra Mater as having ‘improved’ since her recently attained career P.B.

The daughter of Wandjina increased her win tally to seven when she scored her first black-type success in the Mona Lisa Plate (1350m) at Wyong on September 1.

“She has come back and really thrived since her Mona Lisa win,” Austin said.

“She’s definitely improved. Improving ability-wise, that’s hard to predict, but every time we’ve asked her to jump over the fence, she has.

“Everything has gone according to plan so far which is quite unusual for a preparation.

👏 @nashhot weaves through the field on Terra Mater to win the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes at @WyongRaceClub!@JarrodAustin6pic.twitter.com/825d7EJZSJ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 1, 2024

“We were hoping we would be in this position that we would be winning the Mona Lisa and then going to a Tibbie with big chance but you’re never quite sure if they are going to come back and measure up to that level but she has.”

Terra Mater, a $1,750 online weanling purchase in 2020, took her earnings past $500,000 at Wyong inside 16 starts.

That’s seven wins and seven placings - and two ‘excuses’ for her ‘failures’.

“She wants to win everything,” Austin says. “She is just very, very competitive.

“If you watch the replay (of the Mona Lisa), when she comes through that gap she’s got her ears pinned to the back of her head and really wanted to put them away.”

Terra Mater will be ridden at Newcastle for an eighth time by the three-time Tibbie Plate winner Nash Rawiller.

Rawiller has steered her to five wins (and a second) ahead of this assignment.

Austin doesn’t give any instructions to Rawiller before legging him aboard, he doesn’t have to when the pair have a phenomenal winning strike-rate together of 47.5 per cent.

“There doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed in the race,” Austin said.

“I don’t think it is going to be a fast run Tibbie, but barrier 2 is perfect. Nash can do whatever he likes, hopefully a couple will come across and we sit right behind the leaders.”