The value of Moonee Valley experience has not been lost on trainer Kris Lees who will send three-year-old Thump into a weight-for-age battle in the William Reid Stakes.
Lees has decided Friday night’s Group One sprint is an easier option than the Coolmore Classic the following day at Rosehill.
The winner of the Group Two Surround Stakes last Saturday week, Thump was a late entry on Tuesday for the William Reid (1200m) leaving her stablemates Lucia Valentina and Sharnee Rose as the trainer’s Coolmore runners.
“She has won at the track which is in her favour,” Lees said.
“I think it is a nice option for her and might be a little bit softer than the Coolmore.”
Jim Cassidy will ride the former Patinack Farm filly in the William Reid Moonee Valley before which features Group One-winning sprinters Samaready and Shamexpress and last year’s Caulfield cup winner Fawkner.
When trained by John Thompson for Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm, Thump won the Group Three Champagne Stakes at the Valley, beating Blue Diamond Stakes winner Miracles Of Life.
After her seventh in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington, Thump was bought by Bruce Neill’s Cressfield Stud.
She has had two starts for Lees, finishing seventh first-up in the Light Fingers Stakes won by Sweet Idea.
Lucia Valentina is another newcomer to the Lees’ Newcastle stable, earning her Coolmore Classic berth with her third to Thump in the Surround at her first start for the trainer.
Sharnee Rose finished second to Catkins in the Group Three Wiggle Stakes (1400m) on the same day and gets an extra 2.5kg weight advantage in the Coolmore from their last meeting.
Lees has not confirmed a rider for Lucia Valentina who is on the limit weight but will go up to 53.5kg if Red Tracer does not run to ensure Catkins has a minimum topweight of 58kg.
“I can’t confirm a rider yet because we don’t know what weight she will be carrying,” he said.
