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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Kris Lees isn’t making any grand plans with talented galloper Cloudland, who resumes at Kensington on Wednesday, this preparation but is adamant he’s at least a Saturday class horse.

Trainer Kris Lees (Pic: Steve Hart)

The five-year-old has only raced eight times and won his first three starts, including his debut at Muswellbrook where he wound up on the outside fence, but Lees said he’s been a work in progress and that’s influenced how lightly raced he’s been to date.

After two trials, including a win over Much Much Better at Wyong, Cloudland, $9.50 with TAB on Tuesday, kicks off in the TAB Handicap (1250m).

“He came from New Zealand, he’s a little bit erratic in his early days and having the bleed put him out for three months,’’ Lees said.

“There’s been a couple of circumstances but otherwise he‘s a very sound horse.

“I want to try and place him right, the tail of the carnival is the right time and I think he is a genuine Saturday horse.”

As Lees mentioned, Cloudland’s autumn and winter prep came to an end when he bled in a race at Rosehill on June 3 and incurred the mandatory ban.

It was only his second unplaced run, with the other coming on a heavy track in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final in April, and one with a genuine excuse.

“He looks to have come back really well, there was no indication of a bleed before or since so hopefully it was a one off,’’ Lees said.

“The horse has trialled up nicely and I expect him to race well.”

Stablemate Classic Deel was beaten 250 lengths when she last stepped out at Warwick Farm two weeks ago but Lees puts a line through that as she suffered severe interference midrace and was basically eased out of the race.

A narrow defeat prior to that says to the trainer she can bounce back in the James Squire Handicap (2400m).

“A horse put her up the fence and pretty much put her out of play,’’ Lees said.

“She came through unscathed, the run before was very good so hopefully she’s back to where she was.”

The Newcastle trainer has dual representation in the Bivouac First Yearlings Handicap (1400m) with Galaxy Belle and Yankee Hussel both second-up and potentially looking for a little further.

Galaxy Belle ran fourth behind Iknowastar in the Black Nugget at Mudgee almost two months ago while Yankee Hussel, a winner of one from 14, resumed at Eagle Farm over 1200m and ran on into fifth back on October 7.

Cloudland wins a Wyong trial on September 18

“She’s had a gap between runs and a trial, she would probably prefer a bit softer ground,’’ Lees said of Galaxy Belle.

“The 1400m is probably not ideal but she will run well.

“Yankee Hussel ran well over an unsuitable trip, she can be a touch aggressive in her manners so we gave her a run at 1200m.

“She’s come down to us in good order from the Queensland stable and she’ll run well. We raced her at stakes level during her three-year-old season so we haven’t placed her softly.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Kensington meeting