Trainer Kris Lees admits the carrot of winning $1 million is too great to resist as he prepares for an assault on The Gong this weekend.
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Lees has four nominations - Articus, El Dorado Dreaming, Nicoletta and Turnberry - for Wollongong's richest horse race at Kembla Grange.
Mares El Dorado Dreaming and Nicoletta, four and six years old respectively, are locks to run in the 1600m race on Saturday.
Lees' two other two runners are wait and see options, depending on the weather forecast. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts there is a 50 per chance of rain on the day.
"It looks a nice option for both of them [El Dorado Dreaming and Nicoletta]," the Newcastle trainer said.
"Whether they will take it out, I don't know, but both of them will run well.
"It's a nice flow on option from their recent run and a million dollar race is the main attraction.
"[El Dorado Dreaming] is coming off a nice run at the Hot Danish [at Rosehill] two weeks ago. She looks a nice option for the mile. She's only had one win but she's raced at a high level: she's a Group One winner.
"Nicoletta's only had one start from the stables, she's from New Zealand. She's a Group One winner in New Zealand.
"She's another one who ran well in the Hot Danish and will be suited to the mile."
Whether they will take it out, I don't know... but a million dollar race is the main attraction.
- Kris Lees
Lees had four runners in Newcastle's very own million dollar race last Saturday, the Hunter (1300m).
His gelding Tactical Advantage finished strongly to take second place, behind the James Cummings-trained Savitiano.
He hopes to go own better in the Wollongong version.
"I've been to Kembla Grange plenty of times," Lees said. "It's a good spacious track, everybody gets their opportunity and it's similar to Newcastle."
The Gong's barrier draw will be announced in Sydney on Wednesday morning.
El Dorado Dreaming is the early favourite ($5 TAB) followed by the John Sargent-trained Luvaluva and Chris Waller's Star of the Seas (both $6 TAB).
Waller's Mister Sea Wolf ($8 TAB) is set to carry the top weight at 59 kilograms on Saturday while Nicoletta ($13 TAB) will be carrying 54.5kg. El Dorado Dreaming is set to carry 54kg.
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Joshua Bartlett
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
