Lees banking on patience

It has been a game of patience with Changingoftheguard for trainer Kris Lees, but he has him “in winning form” heading into the Metropolitan at Randwick on Saturday.

It has been two years since the former Aidan O’Brien stayer got to Newcastle, but he is ready to show his form that saw him run fifth in an Epsom Derby and win the King Edward VII Stakes, which is known as the Royal Ascot Derby, in 2022.

“He just took a lot of time to acclimatise, so we had to be patient,” Lees said. “He was very strong to win [the City Tatts Cup] last time and the 2400m is his trip. It had been three years since he won a race but it was a matter of getting him right.”

“We gave him the time he needed, and he is starting to show what he can do.”

Changingoftheguard will probably be Lees’ only runner in the Group 1 with Kingston Town Stakes runner-up Adelaide River likely to head to the Turnbull Stakes after drawing gate 18.

“We accepted in Melbourne with Adelaide River and given the draw, he’s probably going down because it would be very hard to win being drawn out there in a big field,” Lees said.

“The draw was good for one and bad for the other, and Changingoftheguard should be able to push forward from his draw [of eight] and lead.

“I think he gets into the race fairly well at weights.”

Changingoftheguard also won a Chester Vase in England as a three-year-old and was third in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2023 before heading to Australia.

Chris Waller has the $6 equal favourites for the Metropolitan in Newcastle Cup winner Soul Of Spain and Kingston Town winner Birdman, both drew wide in gates 11 and 17 respectively.

Waller could have six Metropolitan starters if emergency Strathtay gets a run, while Ciaron Maher will saddle five, including the quinella from last weekend’s Colin Stephen Quality of Piggyback and Juja Kibo.