Kris Lees is planning a three-pronged attack for this year’s $160,000 Listed Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup.
Lees took out the 2016 version of the prestigious race with Australian Bloodstock’s Slow Pace and plans for two runners, Sixties Groove and Mongolian Wolfe, raced by the same syndicate, to be part of this year’s field.
High Opinion, who was runner up in the Listed Wagga Cup in May, will make up the Lees trio.
English import Sixties Groove trialled at Newcastle on August 19 and Lees was more than happy with what he showed.
“It was a bit of a surprise that he won the trial. The track was pretty firm, and I didn’t expect him to be so sharp, but it shapes up well for the coming preparation,” he said.
The seven-year-old, a winner of the Group 2 Doomben Cup in June, just fell short of qualifying for the Melbourne Cup last year and will begin his quest to run in this year’s version at Wyong.
New Zealand import Mongolian Wolf was second in the Taree Cup on August 18 and has shown his best form at 2000m and beyond.
“It was a promising run at Taree considering he runs much better on a wet track. It would be great if there were conditions at Wyong on Cup day to suit him.”
High Opinion finished strongly when finishing fourth on the Kensington track on August 17 over 1800m and looks primed for a second-up run over the 2100m at Wyong.
John Thompson has confirmed his in-form mare Sweet Deal will head to the $140,000 Listed Mona Lisa over 1350m on Cup day after she posted back to back wins in the 1400m BM88 at Randwick on Saturday.
