Singing, from the popular Kris Lees stable, heads up the market for the $175,000 XXXX Gold Newcastle Cup (2200 metres) on Friday. It's one of four runners the local trainer will be saddling up with the others being Sense Of Occasion, Slow Pace and Olympic Academy. The seven-year-old goes into the race off consecutive 2nd placings this preparation with the latest of those behind stablemate Sense Of Occasion in the Premier's Cup on August 27.
Lees also has the favourite in the Australian Bloodstock Cameron Handicap (1350 metres) in Le Romain. The four-year-old hasn't won since taking out the Randwick Guineas in an upset over Press Statement back in March and has finished 2nd in his two runs back from a spell.
“It’s remarkable to think that Newcastle’s leading racing identities, Max and Kris Lees along with Paul Perry, have never won their hometown Cup between them,” says TAB’s Gerard Middleton .
“Kris has four genuine chances in this year’s race while Paul Perry has the outsider in Quartermaster. Either way it looks as though that drought is set to be broken on Friday.”
CAMERON HANDICAP - TAB Fixed Odds
Le Romain $3
Chetwood $3.60
Snoopy $8.50
Sadlers Lake $9.50
His Majesty $11
Mount Nebo $13
Royal Tudor $13
Vanbrugh $13
Decision Time $26
Famous Seamus $26
NEWCASTLE CUP - TAB Fixed Odds
Singing $4
Sacred Master $5
Sense Of Occasion $5
Dee I Cee $9.50
Slow Pace $9.50
Junoob $11
Orbec $15
Ruling Dynasty $17
Dowdstown Charlie $21
Amexed $26
Lord Disick $26
Olympic Academy $26
Letchworth $51
Quartermaster $101
Kinsman (1em) $201