Kind Words’ only win might have been last spring in a 1400-metre Hawkesbury maiden, but Kris Lees remains confident she can be a factor in this Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
After all, her career stats might read differently had she had better luck in running at her past two starts.
The daughter of Written Tycoon was held up for extended periods in both the Gold Coast Bracelet and The Roses and Lees just wants to see her given the chance to show what she can do this weekend.
“I think Kind Words is going really well, she’s been a little luckless at her couple of runs up here,” Lees said.
“You could certainly make a case that she should have finished closer last week, Mark Zahra was of that opinion, so she may have a sense of timing.
“But she’s got to continue to take that next step.”
Kind Words headed to Queensland off a fifth placing in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m), which was followed by a third placing in the 1800m Listed Gold Coast Bracelet at the Sunshine Coast despite not finding clear running until well into the home straight.
She was never given the chance to fully extend in the Group 3 The Roses (2000m) but still got within almost three lengths of Scarlet Oak.
Mark Zahra, who rode Kind Words last start, retains the ride in this weekend’s 2200-metre feature.
The Oaks will not be the only Queensland feature Lees will be represented in before the Winter Carnival is out with his European import Adelaide River to press on to the $1.2m The Q22 on June 15.
The son of Australia, who is raced by a group headed by Lloyd and Nick Williams, finished a 5-3/4-length ninth in last Saturday’s Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at his first Australian start, which Lees considered an adequate performance.
“I thought it was a nice run considering it was a leader dominated race, which was always a chance of happening when a bit of speed was scratched out of the race,” Lees said.
“I thought it was an ideal first run for the preparation. You want to see them win every time, but I think that’s going to set up lovely for 2200 metres in a couple of weeks.”
