The tight track and middle-distance won’t be in favour of Raheen House in the Wyong Gold Cup but trainer Kris Lees expects class to carry him a long way.
The Group One Sydney Cup placegetter will be one of three runners for the Newcastle trainer, along with veteran Big Duke and Attention Run.
Raheen House has not won at a distance less than 2600 metres since he claimed his maiden win over a mile as a two-year-old.
He steps out over 2100 metres in Friday’s Listed Wyong Cup, a journey Lees admits is not ideal.
“Probably not and Wyong might not be his track but the horse is going well and he has a bit of class on his side,” Lees said.
The three Lees runners all come out of the same 1800m race at Rosehill won by Taikomochi with Attention Run finishing runner-up, Big Duke fourth and Raheen House fifth.
Lees again regards the mare as the best suited of his team at Wyong.
“Attention Run, provided she gets the right type of run in the race, she gets in nicely at the weights and she is probably the pick of them,” Lees said.
The trainer will also be represented by Group One placegetter Miss Fabulass and in-form mare Wandabaa in the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m).
Miss Fabulass has been enigmatic throughout her career but Lees is seeing a more relaxed mare this spring.
“She appears to be more settled. I have been really pleased with her trials but the proof will be race day,” he said.
Wandabaa has earned herself a shot at stakes grade with three wins and two seconds from five campaign runs.
