By Mandy Cottell
A gear change could be the key to Ucalledit delivering Kris Lees his first victory in The Archer.
Kris Lees will be represented in $775,000 The Archer for the third year in succession and he is hoping to use that experience to advantage.
Lees will start Australian Bloodstock gelding Ucalledit in the 1300 metre slot race at Rockhampton on Sunday when he is banking on the addition of blinkers helping the back marker take up a more prominent position in the run.
The first two editions of the race have been won by horses racing close to the speed, Emerald Kingdom in 2022 and Alpine Edge 12 months ago, a statistic Lees has held back of mind.
"It's a little tricky. In a perfect world you've got a horse that races on speed because despite the big run in, they don't make a lot of ground," Lees said.
"That's a little contradictory with Ucalledit because he gets back off the speed, but that's why I've put blinkers on. We're hoping to nullify that."
Lees had two runners in the corresponding race last year, Animate (sixth) and Gem Song (ninth), while 12 months earlier Gem Song finished fifth and Ventura Ocean seventh.
Ucalledit will be chasing his first win since last year's Listed Winter Stakes but he hasn't been far away in some handy form races, including when fourth to stable-mate Rustic Steel in the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes two starts ago.
He has been given a week to settle into Queensland and has continued to please the stable.
"He had his main gallop on (Wednesday) morning, and he worked well," Lees said.
"He's ready to go.
"He has been up there for a week, so he is pretty seasoned from that perspective."
Dylan Gibbons will ride Ucalledit in The Archer, the horse faring well in the draw with barrier three.
He is a $12 chance, with fellow NSW-trained galloper Strait Acer heading betting as a $2.40 favourite.