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Kris Lees says he will be disappointed if Melbourne Cup flop Mustajeer doesn’t race well at his first Sydney start at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Imports Mustajeer (Hugh Bowman) and Red Cardinal (Jason Collett) will both contest the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m), with the trainer seeking to repeat last year's quinella result when Red Cardinal defeated Big Duke.
"I've got a better handle on Red Cardinal because I have had him longer, and I'm very happy with the way he is going," Lees said this afternoon.
"The wet track conditions will suit him as they did last year when he won on a Soft 7 at his first start for us.
"But I'll be very disappointed if Mustajeer doesn't also run well.
"He is pleasing in his work, and his manners have been good."
Lees has made a number of gear changes on the former Irish stayer, who won the prestigious Ebor Handicap (2787m) at York last August before coming to Australia to join Lees' team.
He has removed a cross over nose band and ear muffs and put a tongue tie on Mustajeer, who also races in a lugging bit.
Mustajeer ran a cracking sixth (beaten less than two lengths) to Japanese stayer Mer De Glace in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19 before an out of character failure in Vow and Declare's Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.
"Things just didn't go right for him in the Cup and, whilst he didn't have a long break afterwards, he had a good rest," Lees said.
"All going well, Mustajeer will head toward the Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on March 28, and then we will decide about going on to the Sydney Cup."
Lees has 50 per cent of the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) field on Saturday, saddling resuming trio Invincible Gem (Bowman), Miss Fabulass (Kerrin McEvoy) and Delectation Girl (Brenton Avdulla).
Delectation Girl has been withdrawn from the Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) on the same program, and will be minus a tongue tie.
"I don't feel she needs it," Lees said. "She has been working without it.
"All three will race well, but will definitely take improvement from this race."
Invincible Gem and Miss Fabulass are heading toward the $600,000 Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) against their own sex at Rosehill on March 14.
Another dual acceptor Aliferous, a Group 3 winner at Randwick last season as a three-year-old, will contest the Benchmark 100 (1400m) rather than the Benchmark 78 Handicap over the same distance. Rachel King has the mount, but her trainer feels she will need this first-up run.
. Lees has four acceptors at his home track meeting on Saturday, but almost certainly will rely solely on Blazing Sunrise (Andrew Gibbons) in the Class 2 Handicap (1400m).
Stablemate Enchanted Heart is also an acceptor for this race, but is likely to be given a Taree assignment on Sunday instead.
Lees' other Newcastle representatives are Pellezzano (Sam Clipperton) in the Provincial & Country Maiden Handicap (1200m), and Great Danger (Sam Clenton) in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m).
