Group 1 placegetter Uate will look to go one better than his first up effort when contesting the $250,000 Gosford Guineas on Sunday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Uate sits high in the market for the $250,000 Gosford Guineas (1200m) on Sunday despite a wide barrier and questions over his ability to handle rain affected going.
“He has pleased,” trainer Kris Lees said.
“On paper it looks a pretty tough race on paper pending scratchings. Scratchings pending and with luck in running I think he is a genuine top 3 chance.”
“He seems to race best when ridden positive. Luck in running is going to play a big part against that opposition with 58kg. If Hugh [Bowman] can get a little bit of cover and get in I think he should be in good shape.”
The Gosford track is currently rated a Heavy 8 with only a late shower predicted on Saturday afternoon.
“The more it dries out the better,” Lees said.
“It is inconclusive whether he handles heavy ground. He performed poorly in the Champagne Stakes last year on Heavy but he was backing up and he may have had enough.
“If we have no more rain, Gosford will improve out of sight.”
The Ad Valorem colt showed signs of the form which netted him a stakes win and Group 1 placing as a juvenile when runner up in the Listed Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on resuming.
“We were pretty confident he would run well going into it and he did that,” Lees said.
“Another stride and he probably wins that race. It was very pleasing to see him back in form.”
The performance came as a relief to connections after an exciting autumn 2YO campaign was followed by an underwhelming and brief spring preparation.
“We didn't know where to look after the spring,” Lees said.
“He did have some excuses each run however form suggests he just went poor.”
Four weeks since his first up run, Uate after Sunday's Gosford Guineas is then expected to contest both the Hawkesbury Guineas and $500,000 Scone Inglis Guineas (1400m) on May 19.
“We just thought this race looked the perfect option,” Lees said.
“He had a pretty hard first up run. He could have run in the Sebring Stakes but I thought if we did that he might be looking for further third up.”
“From this it is a nice progression into races at Hawkesbury and Scone.”
Other than Uate, Lees currently has a team of mares in excellent form with Next The Universe down to run at Randwick on Saturday.
The Gerry Harvey-owned mare claimed her first blacktype last start when finishing runner up behind Peter Snowden-trained Celts in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m).
Next The Universe will contest the TAB Sportsbet Sprint (1200m) where she is currently quoted as an $8 third elect by the betting agency.
“It looks a nice enough race for her,” Lees said.
“She keeps sneaking up in weight without winning which is the frustrating thing.
“She comes in nice with the claim, is capable on soft ground so she should be a genuine chance.”
Stablemate Cheap Thrills will look to claim her first piece of black type when she runs in the Juanmo Stakes (1100m) at Eagle Farm.
The six-year-old is currently considered a middle tier chance despite a sound fifth on resuming last start in the Bright Shadow Stakes (1200m) at the track on April 7.
“She has a nice gate tomorrow,” Lees said.
“Her first up run was quite good considering. Her two runs in Brisbane have been without luck. She finally gets a decent draw and looks a genuine hope.”
The reliable mare has her third tilt at stakes level on Saturday with Lees believing it won't be long until she claims some elusive blacktype.
“It's quite frustrating she doesn't have any black type yet but she gets her chance tomorrow,” Lees said.
The Broadmeadow trainer expects the daughter of Giant's Causeway to contest a number of fillies and mares sprint events over the course of the Queensland Winter Carnival.
“I may bring her back after the race and just space her runs but we'll just see how she goes,” Lees said.
Other mares to keep an eye out for over the coming weeks include I'm Mary Too and Flitter Bye.
Both will head into their respective next starts off most encouraging wins.
“I'm Mary Too goes around Wednesday,” Lees said.
“It is good to see her in form. She looks capable of getting into Saturday grade after the carnival.
“She has a reasonably low rating and should be able to work her way up to Saturday class.”
Flitter Bye will be chasing a hat-trick of wins after her first metropolitan success last start at Randwick.
“We space her runs out and probably won't run until early May,” Lees said.
“She came through her last run in good order. She spends most of her time out at our farm. She will come back to the stable next week in preparation for her next run.”
