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Posh primed for final Stakes race in Tatt's Mile

19 July 2018

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By Glenn Davis

A favourable barrier has boosted the hopes of Newcastle mare Princess Posh winning the last Stakes race of the season at Doomben on Saturday.

Princess Posh, a Michael Cahill mount, will be chasing back-to-back Queensland wins when she jumps from barrier three in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile (1600m).

Lees has had his best ever season having trained 170.5 winners to sit third behind Chris Waller and James Cummings in the NSW trainers’ premiership.

He is currently fifth with 41 wins in the Sydney trainers’ premiership.

Lees has been a regular visitor to Brisbane in recent years and plans to increase his presence next season.

Princess Posh made an impressive Queensland debut when she easily accounted for the Michael Costa-trained Manaya in a Benchmark race at Doomben on July 7.

Princess Posh was bought by Australian Bloodstock for $25,000 at the Melbourne Inglis Yearling sales and has now earned almost $296,000 in prizemoney.

She has started once at Stakes level when placed in the Group Three Tibbie (1400m) at Newcastle in September last year.

Gold Coast trainer Mel Eggleston is in charge of Lees’ horses when they head north and is confident the mare will perform well.

“The big question with her is how she’ll handle 1600 metres,” Eggleston said.

“She’s never been over a mile though she did get beaten over 1550 metres at Canterbury.

“But she’ll run a nice race from the draw. It’s important to draw well at the 1600m start at Doomben.

“If they draw wide at that start they have to work too hard early.”

Princess Posh carried 60kgs when she was successful last start and drops six kilograms in the Tatt’s Mile.

“Her win under 60kgs last time was very good and she’ll get a nice soft run with only 54kgs,” Eggleston said.

“It’s the last Stakes race of the year for her and it will be a great boost for her broodmare value if she can win.”

Lees is uncertain if Princess Posh will remain in his Gold Coast stable after the Tatt’s Mile.

“I’m not sure what’s happening after this race as Kris is away at the moment,” he said.

“But I expect she’ll probably spell and go back south.”

Racing Queensland webnews   July 19