Racing
Lees takes familiar path with Oaks winner You Wahng after gritty Eagle Farm triumph
Kris Lees will adopt a similar policy with his third Queensland Oaks winner You Wahng as he did with earlier winners Vitesse Dane (2005) and Amokura (2023).
"You Wahng will have a well-earned spell and a light spring," the leading Newcastle trainer said this morning following his filly's tenacious victory in yesterday's $700,000 Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.
"That's what I did with both Vitesse Dance and Amokura.
"The Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) against her own sex at the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington in November looks the right goal."
Lees claimed his 18th major triumph – only two less than his legendary late father Max – when lightly-raced You Wahng ($19), ridden by Tommy Berry, at only her ninth start held out Pinito ($6) and Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner Benagil ($7) to post her third win and first at metropolitan level.
You Wahng became the fourth of Lees' 18 Group 1 winners to take a three-year-old fillies' classic.
He also captured the 2008 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington with champion Samantha Miss, and has also had a number of Oaks placings.
Vitesse Dane, who was unlucky not to have also won the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm when third a week after her Oaks triumph 20 years, had only three starts in spring, and was spelled after being unplaced in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at the Flemington carnival.
Amokura raced only twice in spring after capturing the Oaks, and was rested after finishing a close third in the Matriarch Stakes, which Lees won in 2016 with luckless 2014 ATC Oaks third placegetter and subsequent dual Group 1 winner Lucia Valentina.
You Wahng, also third in the ATC Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick in April, was a $150,000 purchase at the 2023 Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast.
Lees not only trained the So You Think filly's dam Wahng Wah for five wins (including one at 1800m), but also You Wahng's now retired year older sister So Newchee Thinks, who won successive city races over 1600m and 1800m at Warwick Farm and on the Kensington track respectively in January.
"Obviously I knew the family well when we bought You Wahng," Lees said.
"She was a little bit backward, and I gave her only one trial as a two-year-old (In April last year) and didn't race her until September as an early three-year-old.
"You Wahng has done a terrific job as this was only her second full racing preparation."
Stablemate Éclair Encore, who drew awkwardly and ran 15th at $91 in the Oaks, also has come to the end of an excellent campaign, which netted an Eagle Farm 1800m victory last month and four placings.
You Wahng's Oaks triumph highlighted a three-winner haul yesterday – all on separate tracks - for Lees, who almost made it four when the gutsy Brudenell ($21) was caught in the shadows of the post by favorite In Flight in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick.
Lees scored with Loch Eagle ($13) in the 1600m Handicap at Randwick, and import Brave Call ($1.80 favorite) in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m) at Newcastle.
"Loch Eagle ran well without luck first-up in the Scone Cup last month, and likes Randwick and wet ground," Lees said.
"He has come back well, and will step up to 2000m next in the Listed McKell Cup at Rosehill Gardens on June 28.
"Brave Call is a lightly-raced European bred four-year-old by Churchill out of a Camelot mare.
"Justin Bahen (bloodstock agent) bought him for the syndicate which races him after he had five starts in the UK, and won a Maiden Plate (2011m) at Windsor last August.
"He is a promising type, and I may give him one more run and then turn him out."
. Meanwhile Lees was pleased with the trials on the Beaumont track last Monday of imported stayers Changingoftheguard and Adelaide River, who race in the Lloyd Williams colours. Andrew Gibbons rode both horses.
Changingoftheguard, fifth in the 2022 Epsom Derby and a Group 2 winner over 2406m at the Royal meeting at Ascot 13 days later, may line up in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Adelaide River, a Group 3 winner over 2414m in Ireland in 2023, hasn't raced since finishing fourth to Deny Knowledge in the Group 1 wfa Caulfield Stakes (2000m) last October.
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