Yulong's exquisitely bred debutant Gobi Desert provided Kris Lees with the first win named after his father, the Max Lees Classic, at Newcastle on Saturday.
Ridden by Tim Clark, the 2-year-old daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB) led at every call to defeat the Calyx (GB) colt Good Hotspur by a half-length with the Written By gelding Buffalo back in third.
The 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling sale-topper was a $600,000 purchase for YLP Racing from the North consignment.
Gobi Desert is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner In Her Time, who Lees trained for the second half of her career after beginning with Ben Smith.
"It’s very pleasing because we have had a few attempts at it,” Lees said.
“She’s a nice filly, and I’m grateful to Yulong and the whole team for giving us a lovely filly to train.
“She is a well-bred filly, so winning a city race on her debut is a nice start to her career.
“She was purchased at the Classic sale by Vin Cox and the Yulong team, and I’m grateful they sent her to us.
“I didn’t have (In Her Time) this early in her career, but the family, as a rule, takes a bit of time. So, to win a 2-year-old race before Christmas speaks volumes for her career going forward.”
Gobi Desert is the 14th foal and ninth winner for the magnificent producer Hell It’s Hot (Zeditave).
It’s been a good few days for Hell It’s Hot, whose son Scorch (Impending) was an impressive winner under top weight at Canterbury on Friday night.
The star of the team is In Her Time who won the 2019 Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning and the 2018 The Galaxy and was placed a further six times at Group 1 level, the Stradbroke Hcp, TJ Smith Stakes, Manikato Stakes, Tatts Tiara and twice in the VRC Sprint Classic.
Unsurprisingly, when In Her Time was consigned to the 2021 Inglis Chairman's Sale, Yulong had the final say at $2,200,000.
In Her Time has a 2-year-old colt and yearling colt by Written Tycoon and foaled a Diatonic (JPN) filly on August 3.
From the family of The Everest hero Yes Yes Yes, Hell It Hot is the granddam of the Listed MRC Alinghi Stakes winner Lempicka (Rich Enuff).
Hell It’s Hot has a yearling filly by Astern and was covered by All Too Hard last spring.
