Trainer Kris Lees is hopeful Ugly Betty can play a part in kick-starting former Sydney jockey Larry Cassidy's new riding career in Queensland.Cassidy recently quit Sydney racing to ride full-time in Brisbane and has a full book of eight rides at Eagle Farm on Saturday including Ugly Betty in the Listed J Cadell-Garrick Quality (1200m)."Larry has ridden quite a lot for me over the years when he was in Sydney and he rode this mare twice at Randwick," Lees said.Cassidy, 38, has won 40 Group One rac

Trainer Kris Lees is hopeful Ugly Betty can play a part in kick-starting former Sydney jockey Larry Cassidy's new riding career in Queensland.

Cassidy recently quit Sydney racing to ride full-time in Brisbane and has a full book of eight rides at Eagle Farm on Saturday including Ugly Betty in the Listed J Cadell-Garrick Quality (1200m).

"Larry has ridden quite a lot for me over the years when he was in Sydney and he rode this mare twice at Randwick," Lees said.

Cassidy, 38, has won 40 Group One races in his career and it was Lees' father, the late Max Lees, who provided the former Kiwi with his first Group One win in Australia when Coronation Day won the George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in 1992.

"It would be good if Larry can win a feature race on his first day up there," Newcastle-based Lees said.

"He won his first Group One race in Australia for Dad but I will be just as happy if Ugly Betty can run a place for her owners.

"To win or be placed in a black-type race will add a lot of value for when she eventually becomes a broodmare."

Ugly Betty scored a resounding victory in her Queensland debut against her own sex in a 1200-metre Class Six at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

Brad Pengelly rode the four-year-old on that occasion but is suspended enabling Cassidy to regain the mount.

Lees believes Ugly Betty's recent win warranted a shot at chasing black type and he's taken a lot of comfort from how quickly she recovered from her fifth career victory.

"She worked well over 800 metres at the Gold Coast this morning and she hasn't left an oat," he said.

"She's very fit but the concern I have is how she'll handle the quick back-up."

Ugly Betty has backed up only once previously in her short career when she finished fourth on a heavy track in the Two-year-old Challenge (1300m) at Scone in May last year.

It came eight days after she was third on another heavy track in an 1100-metre Maiden at Wyong.

Lees has no plans to extend Ugly Betty's campaign in Queensland after Saturday and will float her back to Newcastle next week.

"She was about one length behind other horses in her grade in Sydney so I sent her up there," Lees said.

"From my stable to the Gold Coast isn't a long run and I thought last week was a good race to start her off in.

"This race is harder again but she'll go well."

Lees is yet to study the formguide but on first observations has great respect for Toowoomba filly Black Minx.

"Black Minx at her best would be hard to beat," he said.

Black Minx was rated among Queensland's best two-year-olds last season after winning five times but has failed in all three starts this campaign.

At her most recent appearance Black Minx was in the leading division on the home turn in the Magic Millions Trophy (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 10 but weakened to finish 14th, almost six lengths behind the winner Tempest Tost.