national-sport, racing, racing, horse racing, summer provincial series, kris lees, theresa bateup, count de rupee
Kris Lees has solidified his position as the state's leading provincial trainer with a trifecta in the Summer Provincial Series final. The $150,000 race was taken out by $3.30 favourite Itz Lily, with Spanish Point second and Game of Thorns third. Theresa Bateup's The Guru was game in finishing fourth. Itz Lily's effort was superb, the mare caught wide with no cover for much of the journey. Read more: Game On: Wellington Phoenix's A-League season a chance for Wollongong to make a statement Lees stable rep Danny Greer praised jockey Alysha Collett for remaining patient and putting the horse in a winning position. "That was great, a terrific effort," Greer told Sky Racing. "She didn't have a lot of luck in the run, but she was really dominant. She worked into the race nicely and put them away a long way out from the finish. "(Alysha) didn't panic at all and improved in the race at the right time. She put them away a long way out from the finish and good to see her sustain that sprint." The 1600 metres race was run in the wet at Wyong, the track a heavy nine. Bateup was pleased with the way The Guru handled the conditions, the trainer thrilled her runner could mix it with city-class horses. "It was a super run," Bateup said. "Wyong is not the ideal track for him, but his effort was super. Under set-weight conditions, he doesn't meet those horses at the weight, but he was still competitive. "He's grown up a lot this prep and he'll still mature a little bit further." The Summer Provincial Series final came as Robert and Luke Price's Count De Rupee finished well to run third in a 1300m benchmark 72 at Randwick. Racing in tough conditions on a heavy eight, the three-year-old hit the line hard to snare a podium finish. The contest was won by Joe Pride's Private Eye, with Chris Waller's Super Effort in second. After impressing at provincial level, Saturday's race was Count De Rupee's first in the city and Luke Price said his performance proved he is up to the grade. "I'm really pleased with the horse," Price said. "He attacked the line, we got a good report off the jockey. "The way the race panned out, we ended up further back than we needed to be, through no fault of the jockey. On a wet track, out wide, it's hard to make up ground, but his sectionals were unbelievable. "He's a Saturday city horse every day of the week, we just hope he goes to the next level. "Going forward he's an exciting horse for the stable and owners. It wasn't his day today, but knowing what we've got, we never know where we might end up."
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Kris Lees remains Provincial King as Theresa Bateup's The Guru impresses
Cameron Mee
All smiles: Kris Lees secured the trifecta in Saturday's Summer Provincial Series final. Picture: Jonathan Carroll.
Kris Lees has solidified his position as the state's leading provincial trainer with a trifecta in the Summer Provincial Series final.
The $150,000 race was taken out by $3.30 favourite Itz Lily, with Spanish Point second and Game of Thorns third. Theresa Bateup's The Guru was game in finishing fourth.
Itz Lily's effort was superb, the mare caught wide with no cover for much of the journey.
Read more: Game On: Wellington Phoenix's A-League season a chance for Wollongong to make a statement
Lees stable rep Danny Greer praised jockey Alysha Collett for remaining patient and putting the horse in a winning position.
"That was great, a terrific effort," Greer told Sky Racing.
"She didn't have a lot of luck in the run, but she was really dominant. She worked into the race nicely and put them away a long way out from the finish.
"(Alysha) didn't panic at all and improved in the race at the right time. She put them away a long way out from the finish and good to see her sustain that sprint."
The 1600 metres race was run in the wet at Wyong, the track a heavy nine.
Bateup was pleased with the way The Guru handled the conditions, the trainer thrilled her runner could mix it with city-class horses.
"It was a super run," Bateup said. "Wyong is not the ideal track for him, but his effort was super. Under set-weight conditions, he doesn't meet those horses at the weight, but he was still competitive.
"He's grown up a lot this prep and he'll still mature a little bit further."
The Summer Provincial Series final came as Robert and Luke Price's Count De Rupee finished well to run third in a 1300m benchmark 72 at Randwick.
Racing in tough conditions on a heavy eight, the three-year-old hit the line hard to snare a podium finish.
The contest was won by Joe Pride's Private Eye, with Chris Waller's Super Effort in second.
After impressing at provincial level, Saturday's race was Count De Rupee's first in the city and Luke Price said his performance proved he is up to the grade.
"I'm really pleased with the horse," Price said. "He attacked the line, we got a good report off the jockey.
"The way the race panned out, we ended up further back than we needed to be, through no fault of the jockey. On a wet track, out wide, it's hard to make up ground, but his sectionals were unbelievable.
"He's a Saturday city horse every day of the week, we just hope he goes to the next level.
"Going forward he's an exciting horse for the stable and owners. It wasn't his day today, but knowing what we've got, we never know where we might end up."
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