Kris Lees downplays star racer Kalapour’s 2024 Melbourne Cup chances

Trainer Kris Lees gave surprising comments this week about one of his top runners. The Newcastle-based premier trainer says that Tancred Stakes winner Kalapour might not have what it takes to run in this November’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington Racecourse. 
 
Kalapour has not run since finishing third in the Group 1 Sydney Cup at Randwick in April. Lees plans on running him in the  Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2000m) and other races to see if he has what it takes for the $8 million Spring Carnival race in November.

Kalapour’s Melbourne Cup chances 

Tancred Stakes winner Kalapour has been stabled since finishing third behind Circle Of Fire and Athabascan in the Sydney Cup last April.  
 
That run was Kalapour’s second straight top-three finish in Group 1 races. The gelding had won the Group 1 Kia Tancred Stakes just two weeks before.  
 
While Circle Of Fire is the betting sites favourite to win the Melbourne Cup this November, the punters are not hot on Kalapour. According to trainer Kris Lees, there is good reason to doubt his horse.  

Lees downplays Kalapour’s odds 

Speaking this week about his seven-year-old gelding, trainer Lees was surprisingly negative about Kalapour’s Melbourne Cup chances.  
 
“I don’t know that he is a genuine two-miler,” Lees said, “but he’ll be nominated and we’ll see where he sits.” 
 
Kalapour has run in two trials since his top-three finish at the Sydney Cup. However, he is still far from his best.  

Kalapour’s run-in before the Spring Carnival 

While Lees is not too optimistic about Kalapour’s chances at the Melbourne Cup, he thinks his horse has what it takes to get back to a strong level.  
 
Kalapour’s first big test will be at the upcoming Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick on August 24.  
 
“He will have another trial on Monday and he will probably resume in the Premier’s Cup in four weeks’ time,” Lees said.  
 
“I can’t fault him. He is still showing a good zest going to trackwork and all his work would suggest that he is coming up well. 
 
“We’ve just got to place him right now.”