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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Kris Lees has always had a sense that promising filly Wolverine would come into her own when she reached a mile so expectations are high for Saturday’s Group 1 $750,000 Darley Flight Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

Trainer Kris Lees (Pic: Steve Hart)

The former Kiwi three-year-old has produced eye-catching performances in both runs for Lees, the latest saw her rushing into third behind Zougotcha in the Tea Rose (1400m) two weeks ago.

It suggested the Flight had her name written all over it though the race has come up a little stronger than it looked with the inclusion of last season’s star fillies Fireburn and She’s Extreme.

“It’s a Group 1, you expect it to be strong,’’ Lee said.

“She’s in good order and I’m looking forward to getting her to a mile.

“She looked all along that she wasn’t going to be sharp enough at the shorter trips. Not that she’d been to a mile but she was strong at 1400m so it was always looking the likely target for.

“She’s keen enough in her work, I don’t know how far she will get this preparation or how far we go with her but she’s every chance of being an Oaks filly in the autumn.”

Despite being held up at a vital stage in the Tea Rose, Wolverine clocked the second fastest last 600m of 36.59 (Punter's Intelligence) and it’s up for debate how much closer she would have finished.

Wolverine, $7.50 with TAB on Friday, has drawn barrier 10 in both Princess Series starts this spring but with barrier one for the Flight it does change the scenario for her.

“I think she finishes a little closer but she didn’t really lose her momentum,’’ Lees said.

“She had to come across the back of them, that said she gets a softer draw so hopefully the inside holds up and she will be able to take up a more forward spot.

“She’ll be able to make her own luck, rather than being out the back due to the previous gates and the race will unfold from there.”

Flag Of Honour confirmed to Lees that he’s on track for the Spring Champion Stakes when he ran a closing fourth in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty (1400m) three weeks ago.

The gelding was beaten under four lengths there by Golden Mile and, like Wolverine, has the inside barrier as he steps out to the mile for the first time in the Listed $250,000 Drinkwise Dulcify Stakes (1600m).

“He’s always looked like he wants a mile and beyond and he gets that opportunity now,’’ Lees said.

“I think the Ming Dynasty form will hold up and he gets that opportunity to be closer from a favourable gate.”

Hosier and Rustic Steel, a couple of the Lees stable’s Big Dance eligible horses, continue their preparations for the $2 million feature in separate races on Saturday.

Coffs Harbour Cup winner Hosier stays at a mile in the Schweppes Handicap (1600m), it’s been almost two months between runs but he’s trialled recently and Lees is expecting him to relish the conditions.

“He likes soft ground and has had a pretty easy time so he will improve off the run,’’ he said.

Wolverine runs third in the Tea Rose Stakes

“He’s in good order and I thought he trialled quite well behind Kiss Sum who looks to be coming up really well and is a good horse.”

A minor issue that saw Rustic Steel scratched from last week’s Shannon Stakes means the gelding has to drop in distance in the Cleanaway Handicap (1200m) and play catch up.

Lees said he will have another run in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) on Everest Day.

“He’ll love the ground but it might be a tough short for him as we’ve been preparing him for longer races,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting