DECLAN Bates was the obvious choice for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees when he went looking for a Melbourne-based jockey to partner his Sydney Cup winner Changingoftheguard in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday.
In the Sydney Cup, it was Jason Collett who was able to dictate the speed from the front on Changingoftheguard and proved too good, but as he has a full book of rides at the Scone Cup meeting, he was unavailable.
Bates’ reputation as a front-running rider has been enhanced by his association with the star mare Pride Of Jenni and they showed their prowess together in the Hollindale Stakes last Saturday at the Gold Coast.
“He’s an on-pace horse. He puts himself on the speed and gets his chance from there. Declan should suit him,” Lees told Racing.Com.
Lees also wasn’t completely shocked by Changingoftheguard winning the Sydney Cup despite his odds of $51.
He referenced Changingoftheguard’s last appearance at Flemington when he finished ninth in the Melbourne Cup, which was “a respectable effort.”
The Andrew Ramsden Stakes is “a win and you’re in” the Melbourne Cup, which five-year-old mare Basillina did last year and she’s back again for David and Emma-Lee Browne.
Last year, Basilinna didn’t start in the Melbourne Cup as her spring preparation came to a halt due to surgery to remove a bone chip from a leg.
Emma-Lee Browne said they are happy with her recent form, which has produced a ninth in the Mornington Cup and sixth in the Warrnambool Cup.
She told Racenet that Basilinna peaked on her run in the Mornington Cup and finished off well in the heavy conditions in the Warrnambool Cup.
Basilinna’s last win was in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes last year.
The VRC made the Andrew Ramsden Stakes a golden ticket race for the Melbourne Cup in 2019.
In that year, Steel Prince defeated Surprise Baby and both went on to run in the Melbourne Cup.
Surprise Baby finished fifth and Steel Prince ninth in Vow And Declare’s Melbourne Cup win.
Changingoftheguard is $5, second favourite with Unibet behind the $4 favourite Zakouma.
Basilinna, who will be ridden by Dean Yendall, is a $19 hope with Unibet.
