Fresh from taking out the first edition of the $2 million The Big Dance, Kris Lees has set his sights on another recently-inaugurated race with Rustic Steel.
The five-year-old will go around one of the leading fancies in this Saturday’s fourth edition of the $1 million The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
The son of Deep Field has been a major beneficiary of Racing New South Wales’s decision to beef up its calendar, having also won the $500,000 The Coast at Gosford in May, which has given him the chance to well and truly cover his hefty purchase price despite having not raced at Group 1 level.
“With all due respects, he’s probably that Group 3/Listed type of horse but he’s won a $2 million race and now he’s third favourite in a $1 million race, so he’s certainly a beneficiary of those style of races,” Lees said.
Rustic Steel, a $500,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale buy, lifted his earnings beyond $1.7 million with gritty win in the 1600-metre The Big Dance at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day.
That was his fourth run for the campaign, following unplaced efforts in the Group 2 Theo Marks Quality (1300m), a 1200m benchmark 94 at Randwick and the Five Diamond Prelude (1500m), and Lees is confident he has another big run in him.
“He came out of that win really well and we considered backing him up in the Five Diamonds but we just thought this was a better option for him, to stay at the mile,” Lees said.
“I think that was by far his best run of the preparation, so I think he’s on the right trajectory. I think he’s still coming forward off the back of that win, so I expect him to maintain that form.
“It’s possibly a little bit stronger race, but a few of the main chances have drawn a bit awkward as well, so he’s going to get the right type of run I’d suggest.”
Rustic Steel, who has the services of Brenton Avdulla, has 58.5kg and will start from barrier five with rivals including last-start Flemington winner Old Flame (56.5kg, barrier 18), Golden Eagle fourth placegetter Hope In Your Heart (55.5kg, 14) and Brutality (54.5kg, 11), who is backing up out of The Hunter (1300m).
