Spanish Point proved too strong in the Lismore Cup (2100m) on Tuesday, securing a fourth Big Dance qualifier for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees.
The eight-year-old gelding powered to a three-length win in the $75,000 feature which was transferred to Grafton after Lismore’s meeting was washed out on Thursday.
An $8 chance with online bookmakers, Spanish Point jumped well from the widest gate and was pulled in to settle second last in the nine-horse field by jockey Michael Cahill.
The son of Frankel started moving up around the outside at the 800m, running down his rivals before claiming the lead at the 300m and running away for a dominant victory.
2022 Lismore Cup race replay | Tuesday, September 27 | Spanish Point (1st)
“He’ll probably stay up here (at Lees’ Gold Coast stable) in the sun for a few more weeks and then we’ll send him down for the (Big Dance) race,” stable representative Mel Eggleston said.
“He’s a good horse on his day. He’s a very well-bred horse.
“Michael Cahill has really been good for us since Andrew got hurt. He’s put his hand up and been in there helping us ride work.
“He had a really good plan going into it. They hooked along a little bit and set a bit of a tempo.
“I was happy then; he got a chance to relax and start breathing. I didn’t want him pulling and he didn’t, he just got into a nice rhythm and then he just increased into the race.”
The British import is relatively lightly raced for his age, having amassed six wins and nine placings from his 36 career starts.
After arriving in Australia in 2019, Spanish Point joined the stable of Liam Howley at Kyneton before being transferred and having his first start for Lees in August 2020.
“He’s as sound as the day he was born, he hasn’t got one issue. He’ll race until he’s ten this horse,” said Eggleston.
“He won’t be out of it in a race like that down there.”
Spanish Point joins Lees’ other Big Dance-eligible horses; Kedah won the Ballina Cup (1590m) in January, Rustic Steel took out the Scone Cup (1600m) in May, and Hosier won the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) earlier this month in his first start for Lees.
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