Kris Lees predicts strong The Ingham for Rustic Steel at Randwick

Rustic Steel is set to return from a month-long layoff to race in the Group 2 The Ingham Stakes on December 14 at Randwick Racecourse. The seven-year-old is currently a huge outsider with the betting sites. However, his trainer, Kris Lees, hopes he can deliver.

Lees famously won this race last year with Song Street’s son Loch Eagle. Rustic Steel also raced at Randwick last year in this race. He finished 8th, a full three lengths behind his winning stablemate.

Trainer: “He’ll run well”

Following a strong first-place run in a trial at Beaumont Newcastle on Wednesday, Kris Lees is hopeful about Rustic Steel’s The Ingham chances.

“He still ran well, but it was always a risk coming back in trip with a quick turnaround,” Lees said.

“He will head to The Ingham and he’ll run well. It has been the logical target for him this time in.”

Besides the trial run on Wednesday, Rustic Steel’s form in mile races is another reason to back him. The gelding has won three of his six starts in races over a mile.

Horse seeking form

While Lees is confident that Rustic Steel has what it takes to do well, the betting apps are not convinced. The gelding has just $26 odds to win, putting him well outside the top ten most likely winners for Saturday’s race.

With zero wins in Group 1 races so far in his career, Rustic Steel is not exactly one of Australia’s top gallopers. His recent form is another reason for the high betting odds.

Rustic Steel started the 2024/25 Australian horse racing season with a disappointing 8th-place finish in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap. He followed that run up with a 14th-place run in the Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill.

The gelding picked up his first win of the season in the Listed Toyota Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury three weeks later. Overall though, it has not been a strong 2024/25 campaign for Rustic Steel so far.

The Ingham preview

If you trust Lees and are looking for a major dark horse, Rustic Steel could be the horse for you to back ahead of The Ingham. However, the smart money is on Private Eye.

The seven-year-old is the second favourite to win with $5 odds, but many Saturday tips pieces are saying he could be the winner after his Group 3 Festival Stakes win at Rosehill last week.

Gringotts is the top candidate to win according to the horse racing betting odds with $3 chances. Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald’s Lockroy is joint-second with Private Eye at $5 odds.