The Rain Has Come In Time For Samoot
By: Racing & Sports Time published 2022-12-03 at 04:11 AM (GMT +11:00)
The Bureau of Meteorology got it right!
Trainer : KRIS LEES Picture: Steve Hart
Kris Lees had imported mare Samoot in a number of places last weekend, but took the punt and waited for Doomben on Saturday.
Now she lines up in the $200,000 Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) with the right conditions to suit.
"They were forecasting the rain to come in Brisbane, and that's exactly what has happened," Lees said this morning.
"Samoot is up in class, but the wet ground certainly brings her in with a good chance.
"If she can get some black type tomorrow, we will probably give her a break and look to next year."
Rain in Brisbane on Wednesday night and again last night has resulted in a "Heavy 9" rating for the Doomben meeting.
Lees accepted with Samoot (Jim Byrne), Animate (Michael Cahill) and Tavisan (Andrew Mallyon), but has withdrawn the latter.
Samoot's two Australian victories at Canterbury have both been on heavy ground; the latest in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1250m) on October 5 on a "Heavy 10".
She then ran a close second to Titanium Power in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 2 before finishing sixth (from a wide alley) in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) on a "Good 3" at Rosehill Gardens on November 5, when less than three lengths from the winner Sheeza Belter.
Samoot's stablemate Animate resumes in the George Moore and, whilst he has been placed three times when fresh in the past, Lees feels he will take benefit from this outing.
Whilst the heavy ground favours Samoot, Lees is not so certain with Ucalledit (Mallyon) in the Class 6 Plate (1350m).
"I'd suggest he is better on top of the ground, but did run a close fourth on a 'Heavy 10' at Canterbury in March when having his first run for us," Lees said.
"Ucalledit is going really well at present, and has a nice gate, so we'll just keep an eye to see how the track is playing tomorrow."
The former New Zealander has won two of his three starts – and was second at Doomben in the other – in Queensland this campaign; the latest when successful in a Benchmark 85 Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast metropolitan meeting on November 19.
. With Cloudland gaining a start on the Kensington track later today, The Bopper will be Lees' sole representative at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.
Josh Parr will ride The Bopper, who lines up for his second start this campaign in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1100m).
The five-year-old on resumption ran fourth to Key Largo in a Benchmark 84 Handicap (1000m) at Randwick on November 1, and has since had a tick over trial (800m) at Gosford on November 21.
"I was happy with his first-up run under 59kg, and he comes down 1kg," Lees said.
"The Bopper is in good order and can certainly be competitive."
. Classic Deel (1600m Maiden Handicap), and Galaxy Belle and Velvet Lady (1600m Heat 5 of the Summer Provincial Series) are Lees' representatives at his home track meeting at Newcastle tomorrow, and he regards all of them as each-way chances.
Velvet Lady was also a Hawkesbury acceptor on Sunday, but will contest the final heat of the Summer Series, with the three placegetters qualifying for the $150,000 Final (1600m) to be run at Hawkesbury on December 15.
Lees has withdrawn Terrameades from the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m) at Hawkesbury, and will rely on first-upper Mobstar (Alysha Collett).
. Inaugural The Big Dance winner Rustic Steel has gone for a well-deserved break, and won't contest next Saturday's $2m The Ingham Villiers (1600m) at Randwick, and his trainer says he is unlikely to have a runner.