Lucia Valentina (Kerrin McEvoy) overhauled her stablemate, ridden by Brenton Avdulla, in the closing stages and clocked 59.96secs. Trainer Kris Lees, obviously delighted with the efforts of both horses, afterwards said he was seriously considering a start for Goldstream in the $125,000 Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket (1350m) on March 16.
“Goldstream is coming along nicely, and the Newmarket looks a suitable race in which to kick off his autumn campaign,” he said.
Lees also began an Australian campaign for another import Slow Pace (who also competed in yesterday’s trial) in the 2014 Newcastle Newmarket when it was run over 1400m on the course proper. Ridden by Hugh Bowman, he was a strong-finishing third to Mecir.
Goldstream won his first five starts – including the Italian Derby – before being purchased by Australian Bloodstock.
Taken to the USA – and ridden by Avdulla, who made a special trip from Australia – he finished fourth to subsequent Cox Plate placegetter and Hong Kong Vase winner Highland Reel in the Secretariat Stakes (2012m) at Arlington in August.
Goldstream arrived at Lees’s stables just before Christmas, and his new trainer has taken him steadily for an autumn campaign. Lees has not yet confirmed a return race for Lucia Valentina, whose target is the $4m Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 9.
“I’ll see how she pulls up from the trial and gauge her progress over the next few days and then make up mind,” he said. “There are a couple of options, but she will definitely have a lead-up race to the Queen Elizabeth during the Golden Slipper Festival at Rosehill Gardens.”
McEvoy, who partnered Lucia Valentina yesterday, is no stranger to the mare. He won both the 2014 Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington a month later on her, and was also aboard when she ran third to Admire Rakti in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) a fortnight after the Turnbull.
*Meanwhile, Le Romain and Felines will chase feature targets at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Le Romain, who has well and truly come to the fore this preparation, again takes on hot pot Press Statement in the $1m Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).
Felines, in the best form of her career and a specialist over the Randwick 1000m, lines up in the $500,000 Group 2 Challenge Stakes – the first time she has competed under weight-for-age conditions.