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Hard luck story out of the Randwick Guineas during the autumn, Kris Lees’ smart filly Invincible Gem is set to target the Golden Pendant 2017 this coming Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
The three-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible trialled at Wyong on Wednesday, hoop Aaron Bullock guiding the Group 3 winner to a close fourth under four lengths off the winner Cultural Man in the open hit out over 845m.
It was her first public appearance since she was narrowly denied the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) win on March 4 beaten home only by Inference on the Heavy (10) track.
Prior to her first elite level test, Invincible Gem posted three summer wins on the trot including the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) when running away from Faraway Town for a four length success in mid-February.
Newcastle trainer Lees’ stable representative Lucas Miller was trackside at the course proper on Wednesday to oversee their 27 horses trialling, which also included triple Group 1 winner Le Romain.
“Le Romain and Invincible Gem weren’t out to do anything flash as it was their first trials this time in work,” Miller told Racing NSW.
“But their respective riders were very happy with how they felt. Both horses will trial again at Newcastle on Tuesday week [on July 18].”
Le Romain, last seen running second in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) in mid-April, is set to kick off his spring campaign in the $200,000 Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 5.
He also ran fourth in his Wednesday morning trial with Mathew Scorce aboard, the heat run in 51.95 seconds and won by Table Two in 50.64 seconds slower than the winner of Invincible Gem’s trial.
The long-range spring target for Le Romain is to hopefully gain a start in the $10 million Restricted The Everest (1200m) back at the track on October 14.
Lees meanwhile is yet to lock in a first-up start for Invincible Gem, but does have the rising four-year-old heading towards the $400,000 Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 23.
“Kris didn’t have a target with Invincible Gem last campaign, but she kept raising the bar every time she raced,” Miller said.
“She has spelled well and it will be interesting to see how far she progresses this time.”
Tycoon Tara has won the past two editions of the Golden Pendant, Team Snowden’s mare winning her first race since her successful title defence in the Group 2 last September taking out the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) last month at Doomben.
Lees chases his second Golden Pendant success having previous prepared the 2013 winner Sharnee Rose.
To back Lees’ spring contingent at the right prices over the coming months head to our preferred online sportsbook Ladbrokes.com.au.
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