NEWCASTLE, July 22, 2010 - Kris Lees will head to Randwick on Saturday giving each of his three runners a hope of figuring in their respective races.

The day starts for the Newcastle stable in the second event when Cat's Diamond lines up in the Flinders Lane Handicap (2400m).

The daughter of Zabeel has been out of the winner's list for a while but Lees said she'd appreciate a significant weight drop from her last two solid efforts on her home track.

“She goes from 58kg to 53kg and that's a big plus on a heavy track,” he said. “Her last run was better than it reads and she's looking for the extra ground.

“I think she has an each-way chance because even though its Saturday class, it doesn't appear an overly strong race.”

Next to represent the stable will be Deemed in race 4, the Schweppes Handicap (1400m).

The Mossman gelding did a good job at his city debut when finishing a solid third behind the smart Queensland filly Demanding Miss in a similar race a fortnight ago.

“He went well last start so there is no reason why he won't run well again,” Lees said. “I'd say he's a bit fitter going into Saturday because that last run was off a four week break and the race is no harder.

“He's got claims for sure.”

Rounding out the team is the consistent mare Visa Lisa who goes around in race 5, the Book Your Spring Carnival Package Handicap (1200m).

Visa Lisa has spent a couple of weeks having some ‘R and R' at Lees spelling establishment Ettalong Park and the trainer said the signs are there for an improved run on Saturday.

“She was racing a bit flat so I gave her a couple of days in the paddock and it really brightened her up,” he said. “I honestly think she will go a lot better on Saturday and it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see her in the finish.

CANTERBURY, July 21, 2010 - Trainer Kris Lees was excited by the Canterbury win on Wednesday by the imported mare Aromatic.

The five-year-old daughter of Medicean was having her third Australian start after being purchased by renowned bloodstock agent Kieran Moore on behalf of Rob Ferguson and the victory is a “great launching pad” according to Lees

“She works like a good stayer,” Lees said. “I'm not in a rush with her and I'll just keep taking her along and see how far we get this prep.

“I'll probably look for a Saturday race for her now but she's going to furnish into a nice mare next prep and maybe a race like the Newcastle Cup won't be beyond her.”

Having her first Australian start past the mile, Aromatic was sent straight to the front by Tommy Berry and she was never in danger of defeat shooting well clear in the straight before Berry took his foot off the accelerator over the final 100 metres.

“From what I see at home that performance is no surprise but I was concerned about the heavy track today,” Lees said. “She went horribly last time on the Kenso but they can struggle there and get through the heavy at other venues.

“That win gives us great launching pad to go forward with her because as is the case with most of these imported horses she is only going to get better as she acclimatises in Australia.”

Aromatic ($16) defeated The Warrior Woman ($3.60 fav) by 1-1/4 lengths with Ausbred Gold ($8) a half length back in third.

GOLD COAST, January 10, 2009 - Tough mare Hidden Wonder continued her unbeaten run for the Kris Lees stable when she scored a gutsy win in the $250,000 Magic Millions Stayers Cup (1800m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Having her third start for Lees Racing, Hidden Wonder recorded another marvellous result for Prime Thoroughbreds and her owners.

"It was a great, touch effort," Lees said. "It looked like it was run at a pretty generous clip."

"She fought off the other leader and it was a good strong win."

For Lees the win was the third from just three starts with the daughter of Danzero and he continues to learn more about the mare with each start.

"I didn't really know the mare. But she's kept on surprising me when she goes to the races," he said.

"She's only been with us for the three runs - so it's very rewarding and I have to thank Joe [O'Neill] for that."

O'Neill, purchased Hidden Wonder for just $50,000 from the draft of Bellerive Stud at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and he was a happy man in the mounting yard.

"This is a big day and to win this race is phenomenal," he said.

"She's won two at Randwick. She's won here and she's won in Melbourne and Adelaide."

"She's won in four states now. She's a very good mare."

"There's some lovely people in the horse and I think there will be some very excited people around."

O'Neill said the mare's connections were originally planning to send the mare to stud, but when arriving in New South Wales it was decided to give her another campaign with a new trainer.

"We were thinking about breeding from her but then we changed our mind," he said.

"She's very tough and she comes from a very good family. I've bought two more Danzero fillies this year - and they will be advertised soon!"

She's now won over $362,000 and being a black type performer she would be a valuable broodmare once her racing days are over.

Lees said he would look at giving the five-year-old an Autumn Carnival campaign in Sydney. She is likely to have a break between now and then.

"She's had a big campaign. It's hard to spell a mare when they are in form but there might be something at the carnival for her," he said.

NEWCASTLE, December 30, 2009 - Lees Racing should play its part at Rosehill on Saturday with both stable runners having good chances according to trainer Kris Lees.

Smart mare Cheap Thrills will have her third run back from a spell in the Canterbury Park Event Centre Handicap over 1400m.

After a solid first-up second at Warwick Farm, Cheap Thrills didn't have the best of luck when fourth, beaten less than a length, behind Clothing at Rosehill on December 12.

“It was a very fast run race at Rosehill and of the on-pacers in te race, she was clearly the first one home,” Lees said.

“She's come on again since the last run and the step up to 1400 metres is a plus.

“It's a similar race to a fortnight ago and she'll be in the thick of it again.”

The other stable representative, Red Spot Special, is where the stable supporters could get their New Year fill according to Lees.

The four-year-old by Red Ransom will line up in the Gold Coast International Handicap over 2400m.

Lees believes the mare is crying out for a trip and can give a good sight on Saturday at her first start over a staying trip this preparation.

“She's a promising stayer in the making this mare,” he said.

“She was warming up nicely the final 200 metres over the 1800 metre trip last time and the extra three furlongs is what she's looking for.

NEWCASTLE, December 30, 2009 - Lees Racing will have a big representation at Randwick on New Year's Day with the promising Single Plan headlining the support team.

Lees will saddle up proven open class galloper Pins On Parade in the feature race, the Carrington Stakes but there will also be plenty of interest in the performance of the promising three-year-old filly.

On debut, Single Plan was forced to fire plenty of bullets before the home turn at Canterbury but the daughter of Not A Single Doubt still proved too strong for her rivals when recording an impressive win.

On Friday, Single Plan jumps sharply in grade to contest the Bianco Lady Handicap and while Lees concedes the race “isn't ideal”, he's confident she'll measure up.

“I'd have preferred a three-year-old race for her but there was nothing around,” he said.

“She's done very well since her debut and while it's a tough task, I expect her to run very well.”

Another of the stable runners at Randwick is also a last start winner, Race The Shadow who runs in the Zephyr Bay Handicap over 1200m.

Race The Shadow resumed from a spell at Wyong on December 16 and he proved a class above his rivals recording a 1-1/4 length victory.

“It was a pretty soft win at Wyong and he's showing some promise,” he said.

“The barrier is tricky [14] but Jimmy [Cassidy] is riding in great form so if anyone can overcome it I'm sure Jimbo can.

“If he can get some luck in running then I think he has a strong each-way chance.”

Rounding out the team for Friday is the consistent Lotseventy in the Tattersalls Club Handicap over 1300m.

Having his fourth run back from a long spell, Lotseventy goes into the race after a solid effort at Rosehill when fifth behind Renaissance on December 9.

“It's the same class of race as the Rosehill race but it does appear a bit thinner on paper,” he said.

“The horse is racing pretty well and if we can get a bit of tempo then he'll be finding the line and prove hard to hold out.

“He gets in his races so he'll need some luck but if he gets it then he's a good chance.”

NEWCASTLE, December 30, 2009 - Trainer Kris Lees expects his sharp sprinter Pins On Parade to turn in a strong effort in Friday's $100,000 Listed Carrington Stakes at Randwick.

Lees said Pins On Parade had performed well in his two trials and he doesn't regard the race as a “vintage edition”.

“I've seen stronger Carrington's than this,” Lees said.

“The horse's two trials were both good, particularly his last one when he beat Walking Or Dancing at Wyong.”

Pins On Parade is the winner of five of his 20 starts and he's finished in the first two at four of his six 1100 metre starts.

Quoted at $5.50 with TAB Sportsbet, Pins On Parade is great each-way value according to his trainer.

“First-up last preparation he was beaten less than two lengths behind Teasing in a stakes race at Rosehill on a wet track,” he said.

“A repeat of that on a firm surface and he'll prove hard to catch.

Kris Lees described Hidden Wonder as a “tough bugger” after the mare made it two from two for the stable in the Paul Curran Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Boxing Day.

For Lees the victory had special significance with the race named after a former friend of the family.

“My mum and dad used to call Paul Curran every year for his birthday and he lived till he was 103,” Lees said.

“It was an honour to have a runner in the race and even better to win it.”

Lees said Hidden Wonder is now Gold Coast bound for the $250,000 Magic Millions Stayers Cup (1800m) on January 9 after the victory.

“She might just take a bit of catching over 1800 metres up there,” he said.

Ridden forward by Kody Nestor, Hidden Wonder stalked the favourite Zuzela throughout and her determination saw the five-year-old mow the leader down over the concluding stages.

“She's tough – looked beaten at the furlong at both her runs for us but she's dug deep and found what was needed,” Lees said.

“It must be that good Newcastle air – she's obviously loves it and why not, it's God's country.”

The placings and margins: Hidden Wonder (Kody Nestor a3) 58.5kg ($1.80 fav) defeated Zuzela (Jim Cassidy) 53kg ($9) by a half neck with a long head back to Miss Independant (Nash Rawiller) 57.5kg ($21) in third place.

Winner's breeding – Hidden Wonder is a five-year-old mare by Danzero out of Princess Shorna (Last Tycoon (IRE)).

NEWCASTLE, December 23 - Kris Lees will take his handy mare Hidden Wonder to the Magic Millions Carnival if she can perform to expectations in the Paul Curran Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Boxing Day.

A recent addition to the stable, Hidden Wonder, started the relationship in the best way possible with a victory on the Kensington track on November 28.

Lees said the mare has gone forward since her stable debut and he expects her to book a trip to the Gold Coast with a good showing on Saturday.

“She hasn't missed a beat since her last run and the Magic Millions Cup is on the agenda after Saturday,” Lees said.

“I'm very happy with the mare and it looks a winnable race for a mare with her credentials.

“Young Kody Nestor is riding well so I've elected to take advantage of his 3kg claim and I'm confident she'll be fighting out the finish.”

The stable's other runner at Randwick is the seven-year-old gelding Motspur who returns from a break in the Super Impose Handicap over 1100m.

The son of Flying Spur raced in career best form last preparation when producing a win and three placings in town and Lees said the signs are there that he can continue on from where he left off.

“He's a big gross horse and he'll improve on whatever he does at the weekend but I'm expecting him to run well,” he said.

NEWCASTLE, December 23, 2009 - Kris Lees is hopeful that uniquely white filly The Opera House can make a winning start to her career at Newcastle on Boxing Day.

The debut run of The Opera House is building to one of the most highly anticipated starts to a racing career with the daughter of Zabeel being the only white thoroughbred foal born among nearly 18,000 registered youngsters in 2006.

The last white thoroughbred to race in Australia was in the early 1990s when Gai Waterhouse put the polish of a horse called The Bride.

"She's as ready as she can be going to the races for the first time," Lees said.

"She's come through her trials in good order and her work has been sound.

"I'm more hopeful than confident but I'm sure she'll be competitive and I'll be happy seeing her getting to the line well with a view to getting over further later.”

A $270,000 Magic Millions purchase, The Opera House is raced by larrikin businessman John Singleton along with rugby league great Andrew Johns and eight Bluetongue Lager drinkers who won a share in a promotion.

Jumping into the saddle on Saturday will be another of Newcastle's personalities, Allan Robinson, who rode The Opera House in her first barrier trial win in July.

NEWCASTLE, December 18, 2009 - The rain about in Sydney is increasing the confidence of Kris Lees ahead of Beyonce's Star's first run back from a spell in the Vale Jack Denham Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The Randwick surface has been downgraded on Friday to a dead (5), a surface Lees said is ideal for his five-year-old mare.

“The sting out of the track is perfect for her,” Lees said. “Two of her three wins have come on rain affected tracks.”

Beyonce's Star has been given two barrier trials to fit her up for her first-up mission and Lees said the daughter of Orientate is going as well as she was last preparation when she recorded back to back wins.

“She normally takes a run but I'm really happy with how she going,” he said. “Young Blake [Spriggs] is riding really and the 3kg claim gets her into the race only 2kg above the minimum.

“My biggest concern is the barrier [11] but there does look to be ok speed so hopefully she'll get some luck early in the race and get a good spot.