There are exciting times ahead for Kris Lees with outstanding filly Samantha Miss on the threshold of greatness but first the trainer has some unfinished business with stable stalwart County Tyrone.The 10-year-old was retired from racing after his third in last week's Newcastle Cup with the Hunter Valley club to host a special day on Saturday for an official farewell.A week later Samantha Miss will run in the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick having already taken out the first three le

There are exciting times ahead for Kris Lees with outstanding filly Samantha Miss on the threshold of greatness but first the trainer has some unfinished business with stable stalwart County Tyrone.

The 10-year-old was retired from racing after his third in last week's Newcastle Cup with the Hunter Valley club to host a special day on Saturday for an official farewell.

A week later Samantha Miss will run in the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick having already taken out the first three legs of the four-race Princess Series.

After his special day at his home track, County Tyrone will be sent to Sydney to be tested as a potential member of the mounted police.

"I am glad to see the horse bow out fit and well but sad that this cuts the last link between Dad and the stable," Lees said.

"However he can't keep racing forever and he has done a fantastic job."

Country Tyrone gave trainer Max Lees his last Group One success in the 2002 Queensland Derby.

On his father's death in 2003, Kris Lees took over the stable and claimed his first Group One victory in the 2004 Metropolitan Handicap with County Tyrone.

Lees won't have much time to ponder the absence of County Tyrone with Samantha Miss set to embark on an ambitious Melbourne campaign after the Flight.

"The plan is to run in the Thousand Guineas, the Cox Plate and possibly the Oaks," Lee said.

Following her victory in Saturday's Tea Rose Stakes (1500m) the filly's price for the Cox Plate was slashed to $10 .

Glen Boss has begun preparations to get down to the filly's Cox Plate weight of 47kg which is well out of regular rider Hugh Bowman's range.

Samantha Miss is the $2.50 favourite for the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield and is also still in the market for the Spring Champion Stakes on the same day as the Flight.

Just how good she is was underlined by trainer Kim Waugh who sent out Kimillsy to run second.

"It's just not fair is it," Waugh said.

Fellow trainer Chris Waller elected not to run Love And Kisses who had been placed behind Samantha Miss in both the Silver Shadow Stakes and Furious Stakes and will run her against the colts and geldings in next Saturday's Stan Fox Stakes.

After the Tea Rose, breeding supremo John Messara was moved to compare Samantha Miss to his champion filly Miss Finland, winner of the 2006 Golden Slipper, Thousand Guineas and VRC Oaks.

"I think she is the next Miss Finland and I thought it would be a long time before I would say that," Messara said.

For Lees, she is the first Samantha Miss.