Gary Harley
Kris Lees has moved into the top 10 in the Australian Trainers Premiership following the gutsy win by blueblood mare Trounce in the 1150 metre New Zealand Bloodstock F&M Benchmark 58 Handicap at Monday’s Beaumont Track meeting. The win took Lees tally to 68 for the current season.
Trounce was backed from $3 into $2.15 and Andrew Gibbons gave her a perfect ride one out and one back however she appeared to be struggling 200 metres from home when she dropped back to fifth spot. Trounce then hit top gear and ran over the leaders in the closing stages to win running away by just under a length.
The 4-year-old daughter of champion sire I Am Invincible was originally trained by Ciaron Maher and after one unplaced start was transferred to Lees last autumn. Since arriving in Newcastle, Trounce has had six starts for two wins. Bred at Scones Yarraman Park the mare was purchased by Australian Bloodstock for $1million at the 2023 Inglis Easter Sale. Trounces victory was Lees 10th winner in 8 days.
New Zealand bred filly Vidia resumed from a spell to win the 1150 metre Davali Thoroughbreds Maiden Plate. Andrew Adkins was in the saddle for the Michael Freedman trained filly and after a fast start she held the rail in second place before racing clear halfway down the home straight. Vidia is a New Zealand bred daughter of a Newcastle Spring Stakes winner Proisir and was sold for $600,000 at the 2024 Karaka Yearling Sale. She is a half sister to Group 1 winner Ulanova and her dam The Fairy’s Kiss has produced 8 foals and all have won races.
Wauchope trainer Colt Prosser made the trip to Newcastle with former Victorian 4-year-old Danxia an impressive winner of the 1150 metre Horsepower CG&E Benchmark 58 Handicap. The gelding was having his first start for Prosser after winning one of seven starts in Victoria for the Mick Prue – Michael Kent stable.
Jockey Luke Rolls settled the winner worse than midfield before he stormed home in the last 200 metres to win by a nose. Prosser told Sky Racings Gavin Carmody following the race that he intended starting Danxia at Coffs Harbour on Sunday, but he scratched because of the wet track.
Christian Reith took the riding honours on Monday with a double.