Latest News

By Ray Hickson

He’s won two from two by big margins but trainer Kris Lees isn’t yet buying into the hype around The Bopper as he makes his city debut at Canterbury on Monday.

Lees is by no means talking the exciting three-year-old down, he’s certain there are more wins in store.

What he does say, though, is so far The Bopper has won at Tamworth and Scone and has to make the transition to town against vastly more experienced opposition.

“He’s won well in his two races but they were questionable form races to be honest,’’ Lees said.

“I think the boom probably exceeds the horse at the moment but hopefully it works out all right for connections.

“Canterbury probably suits now that he has drawn soft, I think it is a nice option.”

On the back of the hype, brought on by margins of two and four lengths in his two starts, The Bopper ($2.15 with TAB) will be favourite for the Bowermans Commercial Furniture Handicap (1100m).

The Bopper wins a trial at Newcastle on September 23

Lees has given the gelding three barrier trials, the third to compensate for electing to miss a planned return at Warwick Farm a few weeks ago, and he arrives fit enough to fire but with upside.

“He still has a bit of furnishing to do,’’ Lees said.

“For that reason we’ve he’d him back and he will probably only have a light spring. We will see the best of him in the autumn.

“He’s a nice horse, you can’t do much more than what he’s done but it’s certainly a good test for him taking on older horses at city level.

“At some stage you have to test them at the higher level and see where we think he’s best placed going forward.”

A class drop is set to suit Chianti in the 2020 Vinery Stallions Handicap (1100m).

The filly was an easy fresh winner at Hawkesbury then Lees threw her in the Group 2 Furious Stakes and she wasn’t disgraced being beaten 2.6 lengths by the likes of Dame Giselle and Hungry Heart.

“She was competitive at stakes company, probably found the 1200m a little beyond her at this stage,’’ Lees said.

“This race suits her but I think she certainly has a stakes win in her in time.”

Lees said he may save Game Of Thorns, luckless in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes first-up, for a race on Wednesday but added she has come through her run at Newcastle well.

All the fields, form and replays for Monday’s Canterbury meeting