Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will look to surprise packet Never Talk to lead the way on Saturday on what could be a memorable day for his stable.
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Never Talk, a filly leased by Lees and staff of the Newcastle Jockey Club, was an $8 TAB chance in the $500,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick to give the trainer his 16th group 1 win.
The proven wet-track performer rocketed home to finish a close second to Every Rose in the group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick two weeks ago. The track was a soft 7 on Friday, increasing her chances of capping a rapid rise.
"I certainly didn't think that we would be lining up in a group 1 not quite nine months after winning that [debut] race at Tamworth," Lees told his website.
"They either go one way or the other, and this filly has just kept on improving. I began to think we had a serious filly on our hands when she won impressively on the Kensington track on January 2.
"Things have gone our way with her liking for wet ground, but she gets those conditions again. I've been pleased with how Never Talk has trained on since the Light Fingers and, from a better draw tomorrow, there's no reason to expect she won't run very well again."
Lees also has The Bopper racing for $500,000 in the Inglis Dash (1100m) at Flemington and four chances - Cristal Breeze, Animate, My Swashbuckler and Safado - in the $150,000 Provincial Championship qualifier on his home course.
"The Bopper has drawn 13 in a field of 14 on the straight track, and it shouldn't be a problem as they often head toward the outside in the straight races," Lees said.
"I'll leave it up to Jamie. No one can question the way she is riding."
He believed Cristal Breeze could ne his best hope in the Newcastle heat.
"The opening heat is often the strongest of the five, and tomorrow's race looks that way again," Lees said.
"It is very open, and all four of mine will be competitive.
"I have a slight leaning to Cristal Breeze, who has recovered from his drama at Randwick a fortnight ago and is ideally placed from an inside alley.
"He is a talented type and I expect him to run well.
"He was coming up nicely for the Provincial Championships before his Randwick failure a fortnight ago, and can be forgiven that in view of the circumstances."