It will be the two-mile distance rather than brilliance which will determine the fate of Lucia Valentina in the Melbourne Cup today according to Hunter trainer Kris Lees.
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Lees, who was last at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November a decade ago with County Tyrone, said stable star Lucia Valentina would be in with a good chance despite her Caulfield Cup third being her longest race at 2400 metres.
“It is pretty exciting not only to have a runner, but to have one with the possibility of winning it,” Lees told the Mercury yesterday.
“She’s had a faultless preparation and now the question is whether she can run the two miles out.
“But she has that touch of brilliance about her.”
Lees took over the Newcastle family stables from father Max, who was born and bred in Morpeth and died in 2003.
It was around the same time the family connections had County Tyrone finish 15th (2002) and 11th (2003) in the race that stops a nation.
This time around four-year-old mare Lucia Valentina, paying $6.50, provides Lees with a real shot at the $3.6 million winners’ prize especially after drawing gate three.
“The barrier now gives her the opportunity to go to sleep and expose her when it suits,” he said.
“She’s had the fastest closing sectionals every race she has been in this prep so if she can do that at the end of two miles she’s going to be very effective.”
One of her main competitors will be fellow Hunter hopeful Protectionist, part-owned by Aberglasslyn’s Luke Murrell of the Australian Bloodstock syndicate.
Protectionist ($7.50) will join the Lees stable after the Melbourne Cup and alongside Lucia Valentina they are among the favourites with Japanese top weight Admire Ratki ($5).
“I think the market has got it pretty right,” Lees said.
“You’ve got to say Admire Rakti’s win in Caulfield Cup had a touch of dominance about it. I think Signoff was very good on Saturday.
“I thought Protectionist’s lead-up run was a perfect lead-up run.”
Lees said he has been thrilled with the well wishes from back home.
“There has been plenty of support which has been great,” Lees told the Mercury yesterday.
Lees also has Pitt Street running in today’s Muswellbrook Cup over 1500m (5.01pm).
