The trainer Kris Lees has maintained his dominance at the Provincial-Midway Championships Final, notching his sixth $1 million prize while claiming the quinella.
Last year’s exacta trio appeared again, shuffled, as Lord Of Biscay ($3.50 fav), the prior bridesmaid, burst ahead to prevail by three lengths against fellow stable runner Imposant ($21), with champion Matcha Latte ($4) taking bronze.
Lees now owns victories in 50 percent of the Provincial-Midway Championships Final’s (1400m) 12 installments, launched in 2015 with a tweaked setup, but the reserved Newcastle figure praised his support staff.
“We’re the biggest stable in the provincials, we’re entitled to have a good representation, but full credit to all the staff at home to get these horses presented on the day and they raced really well,” Lees said.
“He got a perfect run in transit. I was very confident in the run with him. He was getting all the favours he needed, and he reacted well.”
Potentially less thrilled in the Lees camp was wife Kristy, investor in second-placed Imposant.
“My wife owns that one. Anyway, she ran well in the race last year, and she has run well again today, so good result,” he said of Imposant.
Lord Of Biscay, a Euro arrival, adapted gradually to Australia yet has peaked over recent times.
Next up could be the Tamworth Cup (1400m) April 24, positioning for the Big Dance (1600m) Randwick on Melbourne Cup day after seventh last time.
James McDonald, the winning pilot, hailed Kris Lees’ expertise in readying Lord Of Biscay ideally.
“Kris is a champion. He’s such a good trainer. He knows how to ‘prep’ these horses up,” McDonald said.
“He told me a couple of weeks ago, ‘you want to be riding this horse’. He’s in career-best form, and he felt enormous today.”
Lees’ earlier conquests: Spangler (2023), Kinloch (2022), Cristal Breeze (2021), Serene Miss (2018), Danish Twist (2016).
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