Lees stable suffers spring carnival blow

Tom Walter - Tuesday September 19

Trainer Kris Lees has lost one of his aces for the remainder of the spring carnival.

Advertisement
Invincible Gem won't be seen again this spring. Photo: Steve Hart

Invincible Gem, an emphatic first-up winner of the Group II Missile Stakes (1200m) in August, will not race again this preparation after enduring a succession of setbacks.

"She had a cough so we had to scratch her from the Tibbie Stakes (at Newcastle) and then it's just been one thing after the other since, so I've decided the best thing to do by her is to just tip her out and start again in autumn," Lees said.

Invincible Gem was shaping as a key Epsom Handicap contender for Lees but the Newcastle horseman is now likely to have only Sound Proposition in the $1 million Randwick mile.

Sense Of Occasion is a "50-50" chance of taking his place in this year's Epsom Handicap after being allocated 56kg at the release of weights on Monday.

The Doomben Cup winner from last season finished fifth in a 1000m barrier trial at Gosford on Tuesday morning.

"I'm just not sure about him carrying that sort of weight in an Epsom so we are also looking at the Hill Stakes (1800m) with him on the same day which is worth a bit of prizemoney ($500,000) now," Lees said.

Meanwhile, a second crack at the Epsom is "highly unlikely" for Le Romain after the gelding pulled up with a dirty throat following a disappointing 11th in the Group I Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last Saturday.

Lees has brought Le Romain back to his Newcastle stables as he contemplates the horse's immediate future.

"We'll just see how he goes over the next few days – he could go back down to Melbourne towards the end of the carnival," Lees said.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.
Zoustar Filly Wander Dune Impresses On Debut In South Africa
Making her debut as favourite in the Race Coast Maiden Juvenile Plate (1200m) at Kenilworth, South Africa on Saturday, 2yo Australian-bred Zoustar filly Wander Dune impressed with an emphatic victory.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.