Local connection eyes best chance yet for win in Hunter’s biggest race

Résumé détaillé

Homebred in-foal mare Infancy has been a big winner for Kris Lees and Australian Bloodstock, and they believe she could be the one to deliver an overdue win on Saturday.

A miss at the sales in May has proven a blessing in disguise for Australian Bloodstock and trainer Kris Lees with Infancy.

Now the Newcastle combination believe the homebred six-year-old mare is at the peak of her powers and their best chance to breakthrough in their premier home track race on Saturday.

Lees and syndication company Australian Bloodstock, founded by Luke Murrell and Jamie Lovett, has targeted the $1million The Hunter over its seven editions, finishing second with Tactical Advantage (2019), Special Reward (2020) and Wandabaa (2021) across its first three years. Australian Bloodstock, winner of the Melbourne Cup with Protectionist (2014) and Gold Trip (2022), was also third in the 2021 Hunter with Top Ranked.

Lees, who has had a runner in every Hunter race, was third last year with Brudenell, which will carry his family’s colours again on Saturday. Brudenell was $51 after drawing gate 14, while Lord Of Biscay ($23) is another from the Lees-Australian Bloodstock stock.

Infancy shapes as Lees’ best chance on Saturday after flashing home for second last start in the $2million Invitation. The $400,000 cheque took the group 2 winner’s earnings to $964,175.

The Wandjina mare was passed in with a $775,000 reserve at the Inglis Chairmans’ Sale in May and has won more than half of that mark in prizemoney since. Now in foal to Anamoe, connections, which include Lees, hope to cash in again on Saturday and then at sales next year.

“She’s been great to us, given that we bred her for nothing and hopefully she can sell for big money,” Lovett said.

“Kris and I, we bought the mare Childhood as a two-year-old in Ireland and we sent her to America trying to win a stakes race and she broke down, so we brought her home and put her in foal.

“I think she’s in career-best form and essentially this is our best chance to knock it off. If things go to plan, she will be very strong late.

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