Luncies brings Cup form to Ipswich

The popular grey has only won twice in Australia, but has banked $1m in prizemoney for connections after running second to the likes of Without A Fight and Soulcombe in a consistent career.

Lees could have shot for the stars in the $1.2m Q22 last week at Eagle Farm but has opted for Ipswich Cup gold instead, with the Newcastle trainer banking on a drop back in class delivering a win for the top weight.

The party atmosphere of Ipswich Cup day is a far cry from Lingfield and Newmarket in Europe where he started his career, but Lees says the stars were beginning to align for Luncies.

“If you looked at his record, he has run a heap of seconds to good horses like Soulcombe and Without A Fight,” Lees said.

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“They have come out and run one-two in the Melbourne Cup and he’s run into them at some stage, he has a pretty good CV without doing a great deal, but has a million bucks in prizemoney so he has been good for connections.

“He went to a pretty good level early and has raced at a high level throughout, so we thought this was the smarter play coming back in grade a touch rather than running last week in The Q22, even if he has to carry 60kg.

“He has to handle the track, there are a few variables there, but the decent draw probably offsets things a bit.”

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Ridden by premier Queensland jockey Ryan Maloney, no horse can boast the high-level of racing that Luncies has, with Lees taking a deliberate approach to his winter campaign.

After breaking through for his first win in years in the Tattersall’s Cup 12 months ago, Lees ruled out backing Luncies up in seven days’ time into the same race this time around.

“He doesn’t react well on a quick backup, he won the Tatts Cup last year and we went to Caloundra (Cup) and went no good.

“We will probably go to Caloundra this time, two weeks between runs.”