Group One stars Le Romain and Clearly Innocent could be surprise Scone carnival contenders if they race up to expectations at Randwick on Saturday.
The Kris Lees stablemates will line up in the $600,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m), each attempting to add another feature at racing’s elite level to their CV.
Clearly Innocent has won the last two runnings of the Luskin Star. Le Romain is yet to race at Scone.
“The Scone race is run under quality conditions with a maximum handicap of 61kg, and is on the same day as the Doomben Ten Thousand in Brisbane,” Lees said.“I’m not fussed on taking on Redzel around Doomben at weight-for-age so Scone looks a suitable alternative.
“Obviously everything depends on how they perform tomorrow. Le Romain and Clearly Innocent might go on to Brisbane after Scone.”Lees named Le Romain (Glyn Schofield) as his preference in the All Aged but is wary of Clearly Innocent (Jason Collett) if the track receives any rain.
“At the start of the autumn carnival, I probably would have said Clearly Innocent as Le Romain was coming back from an operation after suffering a colic attack last spring,” he said.“But his two runs have been good, he is peaking third-up and is a proven performer both at weight-for-age and Group 1 level.
“Clearly Innocent has a devastating sprint if a race sets up for him, and I purposely bypassed the Doncaster Mile to keep him for the All Aged.”Lees has made a number of gear changes with Le Romain, removing a lugging bit and winkers and putting a standard bit on him.
Lees is not concerned by the triple Group 1 winner’s outside barrier in the All Aged.“They went too quick for him in his first two runs back over shorter distances, but he’ll roll forward going up to 1400m this time and hopefully get a nice spot,” he said.
Lees has withdrawn Singing from the G3 JRA Plate (2000m) whilst dual acceptor Star Reflection (Kerrin McEvoy) runs in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) instead of the APN Outdoor BM 85 Handicap over the same distance.
