Kris Lees will not saddle up a runner in the feature $2 million Inglis Millennium but he will get two bites of the cherry in the supporting juvenile race at Warwick Farm.
The leading Newcastle trainer will start Fall On A Star and Snitzari in Saturday’s Listed Darley Lonhro Plate (1000m) and expects both to run well if they handle the heavy track.
Fall On A Star showed enough early promise to contest the first two-year-old race of the season finishing sixth behind Every Rose in the Gimcrack Stakes.
Lees has a high regard for the youngster who demonstrated a good turn of foot in her most recent barrier trial when she sported blinkers for the first time.
“She’s a nice filly. The 1000 might be a bit short for her but if the ground is soft it will make it a bit more testing which might play into her hands, if she handles it,” Lees said.
“She showed a bit early, but I think the blinkers have certainly switched her on.”
Snitzari, a daughter of top stallion Snitzel, makes her debut in Saturday’s race after winning her only trial at Newcastle.
It is uncustomary for Lees to throw a debutante in the deep end but the trainer believes Snitzari has enough natural speed to make her own luck and give some cheek.
“It’s a big ask at her first start but the unknown with the wet ground could make it a bit of a lottery,” Lees said.
“She is a fast filly and she could give herself a chance up on speed.”
While trainers are often hesitant to kick off a horse’s campaign on a heavy track, Lees says it is a different scenario with two-year-olds contesting short-course sprints.
He is happy to test the two fillies on a wet track knowing both have done sufficient groundwork to handle the task.
“I’m comfortable enough with 1000 metres, particularly if their fitness levels are fine,” Lees said.
“Whether they handle it or not we’ll find out.”
