DOOM NOV 20 - LEES DOES IT AGAIN WITH KAUNDA

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Doomben, November 20, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 3m. Penetrometer: 4.6.
NMW Handicap - 1350m.
Time: 1-20.30. Last 600m: 34.39. (Carrying 54.5kg).
1 Kaunda; 2 Telesto Warrior; 3 Heartsun.
Margins: Head; 1.25.

Trainer Kris Lees has all but perfected the method of selecting a horse and then sending it up from its home base to compete for and win prize-money on the Brisbane circuit.

Lees has an impressive strike-rate in this regard, so when he has runners carded at Doomben or Eagle Farm they are almost always worth a second glance.

Two Lees trained runners were in action at Doomben on Saturday. The first, Timetable, was just touched off in the last stride by Raeburn in the second race on the card while Kuanda went one better in another close finish when fighting hard to see off the big threat of Telesto Warrior by a head in a driving finish.

This win was Kuanda’s first success since his Class 2 win over 1200m at Wyong back in July.

The son of Thorn Park has remained ultra-consitent this campaign having finished second on three occasions and third once in the four runs that separated his visits to the winners’ enclosure.

The lightly raced five-year-old chestnut is now a three-time winner (with seven minor placings) from thirteen starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Bradley Herne (who saddled up the winner for trainer Kris Lees): “Mel Eggleston looks after the horse for Kris (Lees) at the Gold Coast.

“When Kris sends the horse to town I get the job to saddle him up.

“Chris (Munce) said it was a messy race … it was too. It was stop, start … horses checking everywhere. It was messy.

“He dug deep when he needed to. It was a good win.”

Jockey Chris Munce: “It was a very stop, start affair. They went very quick for, I reckon, the first fifty metres. Then they pulled up to a hack canter. Then they were off again.

“It was just a very hard race to ride, in a sense. That’s why I let my bloke just stride up three deep.

“He was happy there. He was relaxed and he was enjoying himself.

“It’s a bit of a trick to allow a horse to cover ground comfortably. There is a bit of an art to it, but if the horse is good enough and going well enough underneath you and relaxed they’ll still run as good if they are three deep or fourth the fence.

“You know, the old days of wanting to get the gun run … fourth, two back the fence … it’s lovely to be there, but you certainly can still win three deep.

“I could sense the other horse (Telesto Warrior) coming. I did sense him coming, but the blinkers probably helped my guy fight a little bit more today too.

“He stuck his head out and had a good go the last fifty. That’s probably what was the key today, I’d say.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Kaunda): 3.30 steady.
Favourite (Imagery): 2.80 out to 3.10 in to 2.90.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Carry Me Bluey (J. Taylor) was slow to begin.

Kaunda (C. Munce) raced three wide throughout.

Telesto Warrior (J. Byrne) raced wide throughout.

Rock Rave (S. Bogenhuber) hung in in the home straight which resulted in its rider being unable to ride the gelding out in her normal manner.

P. Hammersley was questioned regarding the riding tactics he adopted on Imagery where he allowed the gelding to proceed forward in the early stages and cross to the lead after passing the 800m.

P. Hammersley advised that he was instructed to ride the horse with cover, however he was unable to comply with these instructions after being forced to race wide in the early stages so he made the decision to allow Imagery to stride forward.

P. Hammersley added that Imagery will be better suited when it is able to obtain cover in its races. Stewards noted the explanation of P. Hammersley.

S. Seamer was questioned regarding the riding tactics he adopted on Usain Prince where after assuming the lead near the 900m he surrendered that position and Usain Prince raced fiercely at the heels of the leader Imagery.

S. Seamer explained that approaching the first turn near the 800m Usain Prince began to race ungenerously so he elected to allow Imagery to cross to the lead, however Usain Prince did not settle and for some distance he had to restrain to avoid the heels of Imagery.

Stewards noted the explanation of S. Seamer who agreed that in hindsight it may have been better retaining the lead.