A tough barrier draw in Sydney and the lure of a $300,000 purse have prompted Kris Lees to send Tasoraay north for The Gateway (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
After drawing gate 20 in the Saddles @ Mount White Handicap at Randwick, Lees confirmed the progressive four-year-old would instead target Brisbane’s feature.
“We will send him up. It’s good prizemoney and he’s in form,” Lees said.
Tasoraay has won three of 11 starts, including a gritty last-start victory under 60kg at Canterbury.
He profiles similarly to former stablemate Dream Hour, who caused an upset in The Gateway two years ago before being aimed at the Provincial-Midway Championships.
Lees hopes Tasoraay can develop into that type of horse.
“He will probably have a freshen after this and prepare for the Provincial Championships,” Lees said.
The Gateway offers more than prizemoney — the winner also secures a golden ticket into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
While Lees isn’t focused on the Stradbroke yet, he admits it would be hard to ignore if Tasoraay wins.
“It’s a big jump from this race to a Stradbroke, but with a free ticket, you’d have to consider it,” he said.
Tasoraay is a $23 outsider in early markets, with Boomtown Boss the $2.70 favourite.