Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will look to Prized Icon to lead the charge when he chases wins across three of the four group 3 races at his home track on Friday.
Lees nominated group 1 winners Prized Icon, Le Romain and Sense Of Occasion for the Cameron Handicap (1500 metres), Princess Posh and Feelin The Love for the Tibbie Stakes (1400m) and Sunreel, Frankely Awesome, Everard, Aliferous and Grand Bouquet for the Spring Stakes (1600m).
However, Le Romain, given 63 kilograms, will instead take on Winx in the Colgate Optic White Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. Lees was second in the Cameron last year with Sound Proposition.
“They weighted him out of it, so he will have to take on Winx, but there’s good money for second, so we’ll see how he’s going,” Lees said of Le Romain. “The other two will run. Hopefully we can go one better.”
Prized Icon is third back from a spell, while Sense Of Occasion races for the first time since last November.
“Prized Icon would be the one, I would imagine,” Lees said. “The other one might need the day out but nothing would surprise me with him. He’s had a little injury but he’s in good order.”
He said Prized Icon would be “competitive but it depends on what Chris Waller runs. He’s got some nice horses that could head that way.” Acceptances close Wednesday.
He said both Tibbie hopes would run but Frankely Awesome would skip the Spring Stakes.
“I’m just going to space her a bit,” he said. “There’s no real rush with her. She won’t run for another fortnight, but the rest are all on track.
“They are all similar horses. They’ve all won one race outside of Sunreel, which has won twice. They are all lightly raced but it’s that type of race.”
