Kris Lees was waiting for the right time and the right race.
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The Hunter (1300 metres) at Newcastle this Saturday has presented the Lees-trained El Dorado Dreaming with just that.
Resuming from an eight-month spell, which started with surgery in March, the five-year-old mare was one of 15 runners finalised in the $1million feature race on Wednesday.
Lees scored one third of the field at his home track with El Dorado Dreaming joined by stablemates Special Reward, Tactical Advantage, Chief Ironside and Evalina.
El Dorado Dreaming, owned by Singleton's Yvette Pearce, underwent an operation for a right arytenoidectomy shortly after her last event in March.
Following a period of rest, the 2018 group 1 Sires' Produce winner has trialled twice at Newcastle and once at Gosford between September 23 and October 14 ahead of this weekend's comeback.
"We've just been waiting for the right set up, we didn't want to race her unless she was ready to go," Lees said.
"We probably expected a little more from her trials but we've been pleased with all of her work since."
Since transfering to Lees from suspended trainer Ben Smith around two years ago, El Dorado Dreaming has recorded four group 2 thirds and placed in back-to-back group 1 outings in Sydney.
She has drawn barrier 12 for The Hunter and will carry 54 kilograms with jockey Tim Clark on board.
Five-year-old gelding Special Reward and last year's runner-up Tactical Advantage will jump from next to each other in gates four and five respectively. Local hoops Aaron Bullock and Andrew Gibbons have secured those rides.
Chief Ironside landed barrier nine and will be steered by James McDonald while Evalina is partnered with Robbie Dolan out of lane seven.
In terms of his chances, Lees was cautious but hopeful about one of his five charges taking out the main prize.
"As you can see they are all double-figure odds. It's an open race. We don't go in with great hopes but are confident all five can run well," he said.
Lees rated Kim Waugh's top weight and TAB favourite Trumbell as the main threat.
"Trumbell is probably the horse to beat. He will have to overcome a poor draw [barrier 13], but is in form," he said.
Inaugural winner Savatiano was not among acceptances for The Hunter but Godolphin will still be represented by Gaulois, Ranier and Asiago in pursuit of consecutive victories.
Tickets have sold out with crowd numbers capped at 2000.
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
