Kris Lees has got his wish for a wet track ahead of Wandabaa’s quest for a breakthrough stakes-race win at Rosehill.
The mare, who has posted four of her seven career wins on rain-affected surfaces, was scratched from the Melbourne Cup day program at Randwick in preference for Saturday’s Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) after Lees saw a wet weekend was predicted for Sydney.
Rosehill was rated a soft 6 on Friday with more rain forecast overnight.
“That’s the reason we kept her for Saturday rather than Tuesday,” Lees said.
“It’s better prizemoney and the rain will enhance her chances.”
Wandabaa is yet to win at black-type level but she has placed in six stakes races and finished fourth to Savatiano in the Hot Danish Stakes last year.
She has posted a barrier trial win since resuming with an uncharacteristically disappointing effort behind Minhaaj in The Nivison when Lees said she had excuses.
‘She didn’t pull up great and something just wasn’t right with her on the day,” Lees said.
“She’s been back to the trials and trialled really well, so I expect her to run up to her best.
“I’ve been very happy with her at home. The only thing I’d say is that 1400 is probably her maximum distance and she’s getting there second-up.”
A field of 10 will tackle the Hot Danish Stakes with the John O’Shea-trained Rocha Clock an early $4 TAB fixed odds favourite, ahead of Madam Rouge ($4.80), one of three runners for Chris Waller along with Nudge ($5.50) and Polly Grey ($21).
Wandabaa is an $11 chance and with Frozen In Time scratched from Sydney in favour of an assignment in Brisbane, Lees’ only other Rosehill runner will be Kinloch in the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1200m).
The winner of three of his nine starts, Kinloch finished seventh to subsequent Listed winner Quantico at Randwick last start and Lees is expecting an improved showing.
“He stepped slow the other day so he certainly had excuses, but he got home well,” he said.
