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Kris Lees Aiming Five At Doncaster Starts

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees could have as many as five starters in the $3 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 7.

Lees’ plans for the G1 feature will become clearer after Saturday’s Golden Slipper meeting at Rosehill when he runs Clearly Innocent and Invincible Gem against champion mare Winx in the $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and backs up Prized Icon in the $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m).

As well as that trio, Lees is considering Doncaster starts for his former Kiwis Aide Memoire and Sound Proposition.

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Aide Memoire ran an excellent race when a close eighth to Daysee Doom in last Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill.

“She ran super, and is looking for a wet track,” Lees said. “She has only 50kg in the Doncaster.”

Lees intends running Sound Proposition, who was just behind the placegetters in Happy Clapper’s G1 Epsom Handicap over the Doncaster route last spring, in Saturday week’s G3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill.

The winner is exempt from both ballot and penalty for the Doncaster a week later.

Lees has booked Hong Kong-based jockeys Tommy Berry and Zac Purton for Clearly Innocent and Invincible Gem in the George Ryder.

“The only way I wouldn’t run Clearly Innocent would be if it’s a firm track, but some rain is forecast for Sydney this week,” he said.

“Invincible Gem ran well first-up at Randwick last Saturday week when third to Happy Clapper in the Canterbury Stakes and has trained on well.

“I feel she could handle the 1600m third-up, especially if she runs well again this weekend.”

Invincible Gem has already performed strongly twice over the Randwick 1600m, winning the G3 NJC Spring Stakes there in February last year and then being narrowly beaten by Inference in the G1 Randwick Guineas three weeks later.

Prized Icon will have his fifth run since joining Lees’ team in Saturday’s Ranvet Stakes.

He finished sixth to another Doncaster contender Comin’ Through in last Saturday’s G2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill, with 58kg topweight.

“I wasn’t disappointed at all with him,” Lees said. “He was ridden too close and it left him without a kick at the finish, but he still held his ground in the straight.

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“I’m taking it a race at a time with him, but it’s most likely he’ll run in the Doncaster if he races well again on Saturday.”

Clearly Innocent (54.5kg), Invincible Gem (52kg) and Prized Icon are currently in the top 20 on the Doncaster ballot order.

Sound Proposition (53kg) is 21st, and Aide Memoire (50kg) is 31st.

Lees has triple G1 winner Le Romain (Hugh Bowman) ready to resume in Saturday’s G1 Galaxy (1100m), where he has 58kg topweight.

“As with Clearly Innocent, only a firm track would prevent him from running,” Lees said.

Le Romain, who hasn’t raced since last spring, is being aimed at the $600,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 21.

Sugar Bella, unbeaten at four starts since joining Lees’ team, is a Galaxy entry but her trainer is leaning toward running her in the G3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) against her own sex.


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