‘He’s going the right way’: Kris Lees-trained gelding Logan Downs primed for winning debut

Debutant Logan Downs is a combination of the dual Group 1-winning European sprinter Shalaa and Serene Miss, whose 10 starts heralded six wins including the 2018 ATC Provincial Championship Final at Royal Randwick.

Her win in the rich feature was preceded by stablemate Danish Twist in 2016 and emulated by the Lees-housed trio Cristal Breeze (2012), Kinloch (2022) and Spangler in 2023.

Logan Downs, like his half million dollar winning mother, races in the familiar colours of Ron and Judy Wanless who, together with Lees, hold the honour and distinction of winning the inaugural The Big Dance, with Rustic Steel taking out the $2 million mile in 2022.

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Logan Downs’ five trials, dating back to his win over his fleet-footed stablemate Wisnierska, have all carried merit to some degree, hence why he is favoured to win Tuesday’s Newcastle Tourism & Industry Maiden (1300m).

“He is a nice enough horse,’’ Lees said.

“I think he will be better with racing but his trials have been okay.

“He is going the right way.

“He gives the impression he might get out to a mile in time by Tuesday’s race is a nice start off point.”

Lees, whose tally of winners at the Newcastle track currently stands at 431, will saddle up one of the shortest-priced favourites on the program when Power Of The Brave leads them out in the eminently suitable Benchmark 68 Handicap (900m).

An $80,000 Magic Millions Weanling Sale purchase, Power Of The Brace seeks to add another $20,000 to his $200,000 balance when he resumes off the back of two neat trials.

“It looks a nice race for him,’’ Lees says.

“He has certainly got improvement to come, coat-wise, but he has trialled up nicely, home track, 900m, he will run well.”

While the great grandson of Newmarket/Lightning Stakes winning mare Isca has an honourable record with more wins to come, he arguably hasn’t lived up to an initial boom.

“He looked being all right early when we were stretching him a bit (in distance),’’ Lees said, “But now we’ll just keep him to the shorter races.

“He is back at the right time, as the carnival moves away, he’ll get his chance in Sydney.”

Originally published as ‘He’s going the right way’: Kris Lees-trained gelding Logan Downs primed for winning debut