Kris Lees has decided against sending last-start Randwick winner Doukhan south for the Sandown Cup but the Newcastle trainer will still be represented at the meeting by stakes-placed filly Yulong Xingsheng.
Lees nominated nine-year-old Doukhan for Saturday’s Listed 3200m-race but said he would remain in NSW for a suitable 2700m-benchmark race at Canterbury on Wednesday week.
Yulong Xingsheng has finished second and fourth in Listed races for fillies at her past two starts and gets another chance at a stakes win in Saturday’s Listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m).
The Twilight Glow is one of 10 stakes races on the Sandown program, highlighted by the Group Two Zipping Classic (2400m) and Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m).
Yulong Xingsheng has won one of her five starts and made her first Melbourne appearance when fourth to Our Crown Witness in the Lexus Hybrid Plate a week ago at Flemington.
“She didn’t have a great deal of luck in her most recent run at Flemington and with even luck she probably would have figured in the finish,” Lees said.
“This is a similar type of race and she’s held her condition, so she deserves her spot in the race.
“She had a gallop this morning at Caulfield and appears in good order. It will be her fifth and last run of the preparation but she’s done a good job so far.”
Having already achieved black type with her placing in the Reginald Allen Stakes two starts ago, a stakes win would enhance the filly’s future value.
“That’s the aim,” Lees said.
“After Saturday we’ll put her away for the autumn.”
