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Kris Lees hopes to emulate late father's Queensland Derby win

5 June 2019

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By Glenn Davis

The Queensland Derby holds a special place for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees who chases his first win in the Group One feature with fillies Aliferous and Grand Bouquet at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Lees’ father, the late Max Lees won the Queensland Derby in 2002 with County Tyrone but to date Kris Lees is yet to emulate his father’s feat.

“I’ve had a few runners in the Queensland Derby but I’m yet to win one,” Lees said.

“I think the closest I’ve come was with Vitesse Dane when she ran third (to Lachlan River in 2005), after she won the Queensland Oaks.”

Max Lees won 20 Group 1’s during his career but is best known as the trainer of former champion two-year-old Luskin Star.

When Lees senior died in 2003, Kris Lees took over training his stable and landed his first Group 1 win with County Tyrone in The Metropolitan at Randwick in 2004.

Lees is putting any emotions he may have to win a Queensland Derby aside as he concentrates on snaring victory for connections of both fillies.

“I know Dad won it with County Tyrone but I’d really like to win it for the owners,” Lees said.

“Grand Bouquet is owned by a great bunch of people while Aliferous is owned by a good client, The China Horse Club.”

Grand Bouquet, barrier 10, is chasing a hat-trick of wins after scoring in lower grade at her past two starts at the Gold Coast while Aliferous (17) is backing up after her fifth to Winning Ways in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Doomben last week.

Lees has named Aliferous as his best hope of snaring his 16th Group 1 win.

“Aliferous didn’t have a lot of luck in the Oaks and took a while to get into the clear,” he said.

“Grand Bouquet was second emergency in the Queensland Oaks and didn’t get a run.

“This is a big jump in grade for her but she deserves her chance.”

In the last 30 years, only four fillies Camarena (1999), Royal Magic (1992) Riva San (2008) and Dariana (2010) have won the Queensland Derby.

Racing Queensland webnews   June 6