Newcastle trainer Kris Lees believes he’s yet to find the ceiling with former Kiwi sprinter Ucalledit (NZ) (Zacinto) who will be aiming to stretch his winning sequence to four in The Buffering at Doomben on Saturday.
The $300,000 The Buffering carries a wildcard entry into the Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast next month but the Kiwi sprinter is ineligible as Lees believes he went through a New Zealand sale.
Lees is likely to spell Ucalledit after The Buffering and may aim the five-year-old for next year’s Queensland Racing Carnival if he continues to progress.
“We’ll see how he goes in The Buffering first but he might make a nice winter horse next year,” Lees said.
“A race like The Archer in Rockhampton would suit him.”
Lees admits Ucalledit has surprised him with his rejuvenated form in Queensland.
“He’s thrived since he’s been up in Queensland and he’s gone to another level up there,” he said.
“The Buffering is another level again but he just keeps stepping up each time.”
Ucalledit rediscovered his zest for racing after he underwent a throat operation at the end of his last campaign which included two average performances on heavy tracks in Sydney during the autumn.
“He had a throat operation after he had only two starts for us,” Lees said.
“He had a bit of a breathing problem but he’s come good now.”
Lees had planned to send Ucalledit straight into The Buffering after he won a Class Six at Doomben on December 3.
However, he had a change of mind after only a handful of nominations were received for the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben on December 17.
The five-year-old stamped his class with his first Stakes victory in the Lough Neagh Stakes.
Ucalledit was originally trained in New Zealand by Kevin Myers winning four of his 14 starts before being purchased by Australian Bloodstock after two Riccarton victories during last year’s New Zealand Cup carnival.
Ucalledit is currently second favourite in the betting markets behind Brigantine.
The James Cummings-trained Brigantine is part of the massive Godolphin stable, winning three times in 11 starts.
The four-year-old had a year off after placing in three straight Group races in Sydney and Melbourne in the spring of 2021 including a second in the Group 3 Carbine Club at Flemington.
Since resuming, Brigantine has started three times for a win and two placings including a last start third to Sky Command in the Listed Razor Sharp at Randwick on December 10.
