Perennial placegetter Next The Universe will spearhead a two-pronged stakes race assault for trainer Kris Lees at Scone on Saturday.
Lees will start the Gerry Harvey-owned mare in the Listed Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) and will also saddle up veteran sprinter Motspur in the Listed Prydes Easifeed Quality Handicap (1100m).
Next The Universe has won more than $200,000 prizemoney and is black-type placed but she has been a frustrating mare for punters and connections alike.
She has been placed 14 times in 23 starts, eight of those seconds and in six of those she has gone down by less than a half-length.
Along the way she has managed two wins, the most recent at Randwick in July last year.
Lees said her racing pattern, which is to get back and run home, was just one factor in her poor winning strike rate.
“It’s a contributing factor but so is her consistency because she sneaks up in the weights,” Lees said.
“Every time she runs second she goes up a kilo and she’s not very big.
“Being a mare we’ve chased a bit of black type with her as well and we’ve got that without winning so she’s certainly paid her way.”
Next The Universe has only missed a place twice at her past 10 starts and she gained black type when runner-up to Celts in the Group Three Birthday Card Stakes in March.
She will get another chance at stakes level in the Dark jewel but with the likes of Lady Lynette and More Strawberries among her rivals, Lees concedes it is a hard ask.
“It’s a tough race but she deserves her chance in this,” he said.
Motspur is back with Lees following an unsuccessful four-start campaign in Tasmania and will attempt back-to-back wins in the Scone sprint.
“He’s a nine-year-old now but he appears to be going as well as he was 12 months ago when he won the same race,” Lees said.
“I’ve been pleased with his trials and lead up work.”
Motspur is resuming on Saturday but he usually races well fresh with four wins and four thirds from 10 first-up runs.