Kalapour (IRE) will likely join his stablemate Cleveland in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup after he led under Damien Oliver in Saturday’s Group III Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington).
Third in the Group 1 Metropolitan and ATC St Leger, the7-year-old son of War command staved off the favourite Athabascan (FR) (Almanzor) by a neck with Gan Teorainn (IRE) (Saxon Warrior) one and a half lengths back in third.
The winner of the Group III BRC Chairman's Handicap at Doomben in May, Kalapour advances his record to five wins, three seconds, and four thirds from 19 starts with earnings of $588,074.
“I’m rapt to have a winner with Damien in what will be his last spring carnival. It certainly means a lot to me,” Lees said.
“Whenever I bring horses down here, if they a chance he’ll certainly ride them.
“I’ve had a great association (with him), and I’m glad he could get a win for us today.
“I didn’t give Damien any instructions. I said to him, ‘what are you going to do’ and he thought he’d be box seating, but when he jumped so cleanly he was able to dictate in front, I was very confident in the run.
“With a couple of sections of 13.5, I knew he was going to be hard to run down.”
“I think so (backing up in the Cup), especially with that style of run. It wasn’t a tough run. We’ll see how he pulls up, but I’d expect him to back up.
“He drops to 50 kilos, I think he is, he’s a horse in form, which is what you want to see, I think he’ll acquit himself well.”
Damien Oliver has been in the spotlight all week and was relieved to put one on the board.
“It is great to get one under the belt early. It is great for the confidence,” Oliver said.
“This horse has been running consistently all season, and it is great that he can win a nice race today.
“Barrier one was much better than barrier 16 (in Newcastle Cup), I can tell you.
“He jumped well. I wasn’t really planning to lead but the more I got closer to the gates I thought it was an option. I didn’t want to hand the lead up to United Nations.
“They were going fairly pedestrian up the straight (first time) and I thought ‘bugger it, why not lead’.
“I thought United Nations was probably the leader, but we were just cantering and I thought that element of surprise is sometimes the biggest ace up your sleeve. I just got there doing it so easy; he was so comfortable, happy in front, breathing well, relaxing well and I’d just had it so easy I let him build from the 700m and he was able to maintain a good gallop.
“He kicked nicely for me on the bend, he actually changed stride about 100 metres after we straightened and he just lost his action a little bit but then gathered it up nicely and because he’d had it so easy in front he was able to hold them off.
“I’m not sure what the plan is with him, but he’s had a pretty easy run today if they wanted to go there (Melbourne Cup), the horse is in great condition, he’s a really healthy animal and he’s just a gentleman of a horse.
“I’ve been pretty busy, feeling good, not riding too light today, which is good when you’ve got a lot of rides and I’m just really looking forward to the week ahead.”
A half-brother to stakes-winner Kalaxana (Rock Of Gibraltar), Kalapour is out of the Dalylami mare Kaladena a three-quarter sister to the Group 1 Breeders' Cup Turf and Group 1 Newmarket Champion Stakes winner Kalanisi and a half to Group II winner Kalaman and Listed-winner Kaloura.
