Rustic Melody Can Cause Oaks Upset: Lees
- Friday, 29 May 2015 08:08
Rustic Melody is not among the leading market contenders for the Queensland Oaks but trainer Kris Lees believes she has plenty in her favour.
Her fourth in the ATC Australian Oaks at Randwick on April 11 was enough for Lees to set his sights on Saturday's Group One classic at Doomben.
Rustic Melody tuned up for her Brisbane assignment with a second to Queensland Derby hopeful High Midnight over 1900m at Rosehill on May 9.
"She is probably the forgotten horse of the race. Maybe, it is because we have stayed racing in Sydney out of the way," Lees said.
"But she was a bit unlucky behind High Midnight and he is being talked about as a Derby horse.
"Redoutable Heart ran third behind us in that race and he was second in a Group race in Brisbane on Saturday."
He said while Rustic Melody was by noted sprinting sire Snitzel she had always shown a tendency towards wanting a middle distance.
Her dam, Palace Music mare Laurinel Argie, was a Group Two winner over 2400m.
"I think the Queensland Oaks being at 2200 metres around Doomben this year will suit her," Lees said.
"She has a tricky barrier (17) but her jockey James McDonald is in form and has been riding up there so he knows the track."
Lees trained Vitesse Dane to win the 2005 Oaks.
