Neasham, Lees stables go head-to-head in the Hunter
Two in-form stables are set for their own private battle at Monday’s Muswellbrook meeting.
The Warwick Farm-based Annabel Neasham yard is coming off a black-type double at Saturday’s feature Eagle Farm card, with high-class stayer Fawkner Park winning the Group 2 Q22 after emerging colt Megastar Heart claimed the Listed Oxlade Stakes.
The Annabel Neasham stable will go up against the Kris Lees camp in the Hunter on Monday.
At the same meeting, the Kris Lees camp out of Newcastle enjoyed a Listed win with tough mare Willinga Beast.
Back this side of the border in more humble surroundings, both are now eyeing off more returns when the stables clash again in the Hunter.
Admitting she’s in the most consistent run of her still comparative brief career, Neasham will place her early faith with improving filly Alpine Kandy in the opener at Muswellbrook over a testing 2300m.
The daughter of Alpine Eagle has always been in and around the money since a smart debut win at Goulburn back in early November.
Continuing to step up in trip ahead of her eighth start, Alpine Kandy has been placed a further four times, often when hard in the market.
The first real stable showdown comes in the third race – Maiden Hcp over 1000m – when the Lees yard debuts exciting filly Etude behind two strong trials.
By renowned Group 1-winning wet tracker Exceedance, and out of a mare by the late great Sebring who also thrived in the wet, Etude looks supremely placed.
But rival and resuming filly Umabett, having her first outing since a Group 3 debut at Randwick last spring, is one of three acceptors in the race from the Neasham stable.
And the two camps are at it again in a competitive Benchmark 66 Hcp over 1450m to close the meeting.
The Neasham-trained tough and consistent three-year-old Code In Time shapes as the one to beat deep into his prep; while talented Lees filly Bangetta is set to peak fourth-up.
Supplied by Racing NSWFull form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au