Oct. 13, 2013, 10:30 p.m.
KRIS Lees may chase a group 1 double on racing's biggest stage - Derby Day at Flemington - after his barnstorming finish to the Randwick meeting on Saturday.
It took just 40 magical minutes on Saturday for Lees to announce that he could again be a major player over the Melbourne spring carnival.
He took out the last two races at Randwick with Salon Soldier and Sharnee Rose.
Sandwiched between was the win of Okane, which was too strong for his rivals as $13 chance in the 2030-metre class six race at Doomben.
Lees's winning run started when German import Salon Soldier scored a stunning last to first win at his Australian debut in the Spring Fashion handicap (1400m).
He took out the last race when impressive mare Sharnee Rose made it two wins in a row by scoring in the group 3 $125,000 Angst Stakes (1600m).
"I did have a day where Samantha Miss won a group 1 and later in the program I won a group 2 but to have so much success so quickly was amazing," Lees said. "You can work and plan for such a day but when it comes off, well I was just shaking my head."
Salon Soldier and Sharnee Rose are now headed for the Melbourne spring carnival.
Sharnee Rose may get her chance to win at group 1 level in the Myer Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m at Flemington on Derby Day.
And Lees is eyeing off the the group 1 Mackinnon Stakes over 2000m for Salon Soldier on the Derby Day program.
"The majority of the best weight for age contenders will run in the Cox Plate the week before," Lees said.
"If most of them do not back up in the Mackinnon then I might be tempted to have a go at it with Salon Soldier.
"If not there is a listed 1800m race on Melbourne Cup day that might suit him.
"Sharnee Rose has been placed at group 1 level and I believe she has earned a shot at the Myer.
"Her win in the Angst was very strong.
"I knew Salon Soldier was going really well but he had never performed at 1600m in Germany.
"He showed his class and there is still plenty of improvement in him."
■ The owners of Salon Soldier gathered for a long lunch in Newcastle yesterday to celebrate the win of their imported galloper at Randwick.
Seems some used it as a recovery session after a long night of toasting the win.
■ Lees's handy Newcastle mare Emotional Circus will also be chasing a trip to Melbourne when she resumes on Saturday.
Emotional Circus will run in the group 3 $125,000 Nivison (1200m) at Randwick.
The five-year-old mare has not raced since June.
"She is going well and she has certainly got the ability to go to Melbourne for some of the rich fillies and mares races down there over the spring," Lees said.
"She would have to show on Saturday that she is racing well enough to deserve the trip south."
■ Top Newcastle jockey Andrew Gibbons turned his fortunes around in the best possible way in the $80,000 Port Macquarie Cup (2000m) on Friday.
Gibbons box-seated on Phrases, which scored in a three way finish.
"I had got beaten on Phrases when I led and I told [trainer] Bindi Cheers that if I could get a nice sit on him he would be hard to beat in the cup," Gibbons said.
"She stuck with me and we got the perfect run off the pace to win."
■ It can only be hoped whoever made the decision to sack Nash Rawiller from Fiorente was watching the action at Caulfield on Saturday.
He rode a double and showed his skill and his class in both efforts.
He coaxed the youngster Moonlight Hussler to settle from a wide barrier near the tail of the field before accelerating quickly in the straight to score.
But it was his ride on Solzenhitsyn that underlined how great he is.
He had the horse perfectly positioned and in a lovely rhythm from the start.
It was a matter of by how far from the 800m mark of the 1600m of the Toorak Handicap.
It seems Hugh Bowman is getting all the compliments recently and deservedly so, but never be afraid to have a lash at a horse you like when N Rawiller is on board.
■ Anyone who thinks barriers are not close to the be-all-and-end-all in a race is kidding.
They should watch a replay of Newcastle galloper Melbourne Billy at Port Macquarie on Friday to see what a horror gate can do.
He was backed off the map first up and would have won except for the outside gate of barrier 13 in the class 1 over 1200m.
He was four wide early but kept kicking on and led but the effort took its toll and he was run down by Another Charger right on the post.
In his short time at Newcastle, trainer Anthony Honess has shown he is not afraid to back his judgment about his horse's ability.
Next time around with a decent draw Melbourne Billy will be saluting for the astute trainer.
■ It should have been a case of Long John silver and not the gold for the Darley runner in the Caulfield Guineas on Saturday.
It may seem strange but the fifth horse El Roca should have gone close to victory.
What happened to him would have made a Greek tragedy that Homer - no, not Simpson - would have been proud of.
El Roca was jog-trotting behind the pace but was blocked for a run and ended up in a stranglehold running near last.
His final furlong was simply stunning and if he runs again over the carnival, even in a Mackinnon Stakes he will be incredibly hard to beat with even luck.
■ It was perplexing to see trainer Mark Kavanagh so stressed about getting Atlantic Jewel ready for the Cox Plate in a fortnight.
The way she won again on Saturday all he has to do is keep her breathing and she will do the rest.
■ There are some handy gallopers competing in the barrier trials at Newcastle tomorrow.
One to keep an eye on could be the Paul Messara-trained Battlefront.
He showed real ability in a short career and could be set for a big preparation.
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