Following an emotional and productive home day at Newcastle's stand-alone Saturday meeting with hot prospect Gobi Desert, Kris Lees has further promise heading for bigger occasions from Scone on Tuesday.
A prerequisite is wet track form with the region taking showers and the surface rated a Heavy 8.
On Saturday Kris achieved a career ambition winning his first Max Lees Classic in memory of his late father with the exciting $600,000 Inglis Classic purchase by Too Darn Hot (GB) from Hot As Hell.
"It was special to finally win Dad's race after some placings - she'll have a quiet week, see how she comes through and assess if we go to the Inglis with her," Lees said.
The prolific regional premiership trainer rates Pier Pressure ($1.55 favourite on TAB) an absolute stand-out at Scone on Tuesday.
The four-year-old mare finished third in the 2023 Group I-Sires' Produce to Militarize on heavy at headquarters. Then last prep contested Group 2 fillies' events in Brisbane and a Listed race in Sydney.
She is racing second-up after forwarding trials into the Newgate Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1600m) with 57kg for Christian Reith.
"Obviously way back in grade, ideally placed under set weights and progressing nicely at four. She's also out in distance with a rain-affected surface," Lees offered.
Pier Pressure (by Press Statement) after contesting The Roses and Gunsyd Group 2 events in Brisbane in May was also placed at Scone on the heavy.
She spelled and resumed with successive trials before a strong closing sixth at Rosehill Gardens over an unsuitable 1300m two weeks ago behind Eletrica.
Stablemate Simply Amazing ($9.50) contests the last event of the day, the Vinery Maiden Plate over 1400m.
"Simply Amazing is suited out to 1400m and is fitter second-up."
