Racing
Blinkers for Filly as Kris Chases another Adrian Knox Stakes
A Group 1 mission is on the cards for Satono Invader if she races well at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The three-year-old filly will race in blinkers in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m), the traditional lead-up to the $1m Australian Oaks (2400m) at the same track a week later.
"Satono Invader has been entered for the Oaks, and I will definitely consider backing her up if she goes well on Saturday," leading trainer Kris Lees said this morning.
"I thought she ran well in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) last month in a slowly run race."
Satono Invader ran ninth, beaten just over two lengths, to Feminino, whom she meets again on Saturday, and now has a 3.5kg weights turnaround.
Tyler Schiller rides the lightly-raced filly in the Adrian Knox, which Lees won with $41 outsider Aliferous (Brenton Avdulla) in 2019.
Aliferous had come off a second at Kembla Grange in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) on a heavy track, and backed up after winning the Adrian Knox and ran fourth to Verry Elleegant in the Oaks.
Satono Invader has won three of her six starts, and was successful twice in a row at Taree on February 13 and Coffs Harbour on March 2, both over 1412m.
Lees has six runners at Randwick on the opening day of The Championships, with two of them (Under Focus and Cantiamo) going in as last start winners.
Schiller also rides Under Focus in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) for two-year-olds, and Jason Collett partners Cantiamo in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) for three-year-old fillies.
"Under Focus has had only the two starts, and run well both times," Lees said.
"After finishing second on debut at Warwick Farm, he won nicely at the Kensington track.
"Under Focus is a nice young colt ready to step up to Group company.
"Cantiamo was clearly too good for her rivals when resuming at Gosford in a Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1000m) on March 14.
"Saturday's set weights an penalties race is tougher of course, but I have always considered she is up to this grade and she has drawn nicely."
Collett also partners last season's $2m Inglis Millennium winner Rivellino in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m).
"Rivellino has raced well at all three starts this campaign, including his latest fourth to Sheza Alibi (Doncaster Mile favorite) in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas over this trip last time.
"This is a drop back in grade to hopefully help him regain winning form, and he had a tick-over trial over 1000m at the Beaumont track last week.
"Dropping back in grade means he has 59kg topweight and also he has drawn awkwardly, but I'm sure he will run very well."
Lees saddles both Changingoftheguard (Collett) and Age Of Sail (Schiller) for the Group 2 Chairman's Quality (2600m).
"This is their lead-ups to the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on Saturday week," he said.
"Changingoftheguard is coming up nicely after two runs back, and the Chairman's will top him off for the Cup.
"Age Of Sail has been in work for a long time, but I can't fault him.
"He ran a great race when third in the Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on March 7, and also had a tick-over 1000m trial at the Beaumont track last week."
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