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“But I thought he was really competitive last start, he stuck his head out and probably just come up a run short. He’s drawn well, should get a nice run, and he likes it here at Newcastle.”

Lady Ichikawa ($13) steps up to benchmark 78 level in the fifth after maiden and class 1 wins at her past two starts, both at Newcastle.

“Unfortunately, it went off in the float and didn’t get to run last week when favourite at Rosehill, but it likes the home track and will be competitive,” he said. “She had a bit of skin off, but she’s had an easy week, and we’ll see how she is.”

Seven-year-old Gundy Bridge ($17) has his second start for Kavanagh in the fourth, a benchmark 78 (1600m).

“We bought him as a tried horse, he had an injury, and we had to rehab him,” he said. “He’s one we had to put a lot of work into, and I thought his first-up run had merit, and he didn’t get beat far.”

Lees chasing elusive prizes at his home track’s biggest day

There aren’t many Newcastle features left on Kris Lees’ to-do list.

And while the $1 million The Hunter (1300m) on Saturday has obvious appeal as the richest race at his home track, the opening event has special meaning for the top local trainer.

Lees has two chances in the Max Lees Classic (900m), the dash for two-year-olds named in honour of his father, who died in 2003.

Max trained 20 group 1 winners out of Newcastle, and Kris has led the stable to 18 more as well as victories in every stakes race at the track – at least before The Hunter (group 2) and The Beauford (listed), also on Saturday, were elevated this year.

The Newcastle Jockey Club introduced the Max Lees Classic in 2017 as a $50,000 race, and it has since moved to The Hunter day and risen to $160,000.

Kris has targeted it but had only placings across its seven editions.

“My word, it would be good,” Lees said of winning the race.

Russian Revolution colt Rustemo ($20 with Sportsbet) and Too Darn Hot filly Gobi Desert ($8) are his chances in a field of seven first-starters.

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“They are two nice horses, but it’s hard to line that form up,” he said. “They trialled OK and they have improved since, but they needed to. There’s not much between them, but Gobi Desert probably races a bit closer and that will probably be an advantage for her.”

Bjorn Baker-trained A Bar In Paris and Godolphin’s Secret Glory were $3.30 favourites.

Lees has lone local chance Rustic Steel ($19) in the main event, and he was confident the seven-year-old was better placed this year after finishing fifth in 2023. He won the listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury in a track record time last start on November 7.

“He was second-up off a long break last year,” Lees said. “It was kind of a stepping stone last time, but he’s going into it race-fit this time. He’s on the nine-day turnaround, and he’s backed up well before.

“The only thing is going from 1500 back to 1300. It’s probably not always the best play, but I still think we’ll get a good reaction.

Team Hawkes-trained Briasa, a winner of five from six starts, was the $2.70 favourite.

The track was expected to stay in the soft range after showers and overcast weather this week.

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