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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Kris Lees says it's against his pattern not to trial horse before a first-up run but is confident that method will give new recruit Cleveland his best chance to be effective fresh at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Kris Lees (Pic: Steve Hart)

Cleveland arrived in Sydney in the autumn with Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien and, after a slashing local debut at weight-for-age, started $4 in the Sydney Cup where he finished third last and it was reported post-race he had EIPH.

Since arriving at Newcastle, Lees has relied on trackwork to bring him to fitness for the Group 3 $250,000 James Squire Premier’s Cup (2000m).

“We considered trialling but I don’t know that he would show anything in the shorter trials,’’ Lees said.

“He’s had a couple of solid gallops on the track. I normally would trial a horse before a first-up run but I don’t see a lot of benefit for him.

“He’s had a good slow build up for the preparation. The 2000m he’ll probably find a bit sharp but it will set up nicely for his preparation going forward.”

The six-year-old, $8.50 with TAB on Thursday, has won two of his 10 starts and one of those was at 3749m so Lees has the task of reinventing him slightly to Australian conditions given he’s not going to tackle that sort of trip if he is a Group 1 class stayer.

He produced an eye-catching local debut in the weight-for-age Tancred Stakes (2400m), running fifth behind Arapaho, and Lees would love that sort of performance on Saturday.

“I’ve got a reasonable understanding of the horse but you learn more when you see them under race pressure,’’ he said.

“It’s about having him happy and ready to race at 2000m, he’s certainly fit enough.

“If he’s sharp enough to show up might be questionable but I’m happy with where he’s at with a view we’re getting him ready for longer races.”

Those longer races in the short term are Lees’ home town Newcastle Cup (2300m) next month and the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on September 30.

Lees has an eye on the Tramway Stakes in a couple of weeks for in-form galloper Ucalledit who is aiming for three straight wins in the Group 3 $250,000 MostynCopper Show County Quality (1200m).

It’s been six weeks since his easy win in the Winter Stakes at 1400m and though he’s been unplaced in both starts at 1200m there’s a sense from Lees that if he’s going to fire at the trip this will be the race.

“He’s only been to it a couple of times early in his preparations, so he’s got a bit of race fitness,’’ he said.

“He’s a horse once he finds form he normally holds it so he’ll run well. Whether he’s suited at 1200m we’ll probably learn more off the run.

Cleveland's run in the Tancred Stakes in March

“I think he will still run well and it will set up nicely to go to the Tramway.”

Ucalledit will have no more than eight rivals in the Show County and Lees has an open mind as to where he’ll be in the run given at 1400m he’s been able to be better than midfield.

“I’ll leave it to Hugh (Bowman), if there’s no pressure he could be more forward due to the fact he’s got some fitness but in a perfect world he’d be two or three off them,’’ he said.

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