All eyes will be on the Kensington track this week as blueblood filly Erin Jo, the first and only progeny of the late champion mare Lucia Valentina to be trained by Kris Lees, makes her highly anticipated race debut.
A Legacy to Uphold
The debut carries significant emotional weight. Erin Jo is tasked with upholding the legacy of her champion mother, Lucia Valentina, who passed away last year at just 14. The mare, a seven-time winner including the ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, and Vinery Stud Stakes, was one of the premier middle-distance mares of her generation.
Erin Jo, her fourth foal, is fittingly stabled in the same barn where her mother carved out her illustrious career. After spirited bidding at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the filly was purchased by prominent owner John 'Singo' Singleton and sent to Lees, the man who guided Lucia Valentina's career.
"She was a nice type," Lees recalled of the sale. "There were some similarities but (Erin Jo) had a bit more substance to her than Mum would have at a similar time. Lucia was a bit finer. Unfortunately, Lucia is not with us anymore so hopefully this filly can carry the torch."
Debut Expectations and Family Pedigree
Erin Jo's first test comes in the Randwick Mayor's Cup over 1300 metres. She will be ridden by Singleton's preferred jockey, Nash Rawiller, and cheered on by part-owner and namesake Erin Molan.
Lees is deliberately tempering expectations for the debut, focusing on a positive experience. "She has pleased in her trials, albeit she is a filly that will probably get over ground in time as you would expect out of Lucia," Lees said. "From the gate we will give her a chance to be ridden accordingly. I think she'll run a nice race. We are not going in with great expectations, we just want to have a good day out and set up nicely for her future."
The family pedigree suggests talent runs deep. Both her sire, I Am Invincible, and her dam, Lucia Valentina, won on their respective debuts. While champion racemares can be unpredictable producers, Lucia Valentina has already left her mark at stud. Her Snitzel daughter, Luella Cristina, is Group 1 placed in New Zealand.
Lees' Second Chance on the Card
Lees will also saddle up Calga Power in the Fidelity Capital Australia Handicap (1250m). The gelding, owned by Walter Power Thoroughbreds, returns after a track record-breaking win at Gosford. "He was very good in his return and appears to have had ample time to get over that run," Lees noted. "He's an on-pace horse with good gate speed, which should be a positive for Kensington."
Griffith Eyes Third Mudgee Cup with Aimpoint
In other racing news, trainer Mack Griffith is poised to claim his third Mudgee Cup with former Godolphin gelding Aimpoint. Fresh off a win in Rosehill's Country Classic, Aimpoint trialled impressively in Canberra and is weighted attractively for the 1400-metre feature.
"It's a good starting point for him," Griffith said. "He races well fresh and his trial showed he is back to where he should be. He has won up to 2100m but that stretches him right out, so 1400m to 1600m is about his range."
Aimpoint boasts a notable pedigree, tracing back to Shaybisc, a foundational mare for the Ingham family's Woodlands empire. Griffith also has strong hopes for Stratified in the Mudgee Cup Day Sprint, following the gelding's recent victory in the Warren Club Sprint. "I think he is a great chance of winning actually," Griffith stated.
