At Randwick on Saturday, the Kris Lees-trained filly Miss Fabulass ($10) could not have been more impressive in winning the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400 metres). 
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the filly settled back in the field, where she tended to overrace, before securing a rails run in the straight and dashing through to record a 1½-length win under hands and heels riding. 
“I am deeply honoured that John Singleton (owner-breeder) gave me the opportunity to train Miss Fabulass, being by Frankel out of my favourite horse (Samantha Miss) and we’re slowly repaying him,” Lees said. 
“She has the brilliance of her mum. She hasn’t got the race sense, but it’s coming.”
McEvoy agrees that Miss Fabulass was “still learning her trade”.
“But once I asked her she was there for me and picked up really well,” he said. “She went through the gaps and won it quite soft in the end. She showed a good turn of foot. She’s an exciting filly and the best is yet to come.”
It was a good day for the Newcastle-based Lees as he also won the listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100 metres) at Flemington with Smart Melody, ridden by Brenton Avdulla.
Rascal romps in
Lees wasn’t the only Newcastle trainer to enjoy success at Randwick, Paul Perry chiming in to claim the listed $140,000 Heritage Stakes (1100m) with $26 outsider Ragged Rascal. 
Ridden by Jay Ford, the colt missed the start and settled in last place in the eight-horse field. 
After topping the rise, Ford took the three-year-old to the centre of the track, where he unleashed a powerful finishing burst to win by a length and a half. 
“We thought his trials had been lovely and felt he could run well today. He was quite forward for this race but he’ll improve with the run,” Perry told media. 
“I think he’s going to get out to a mile at least and I’m hoping he can get to the Caulfield Guineas. We’ve always had a good opinion of this colt.”
Stella too speedy
In the 1000-metre Class 3 TAB Highway Handicap, the in-form Jay Ford took Matthew Dale-trained mare Sei Stella ($4.40 favourite) straight to the front and she never looked in danger of defeat, racing clear in the straight to record a very impressive 3¼-length win. 
“I was a little worried before the race because she still has her winter coat and she was sweating badly but it didn’t affect her in the race,” Sale said. “She’s won very well and there’s a lot of improvement to come from her.”
Canberra trainers have been quick to capitalise on their readmission to the Highway series, Keith Dryden and Scott Collings having won the previous week’s Highway with Handle the Truth.
Disturbance delivers
Another Canberra stable — that of Barbara Joseph and her sons Paul and Michael Jones — took the following day’s major prize, the Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m), with $31 outsider Disturbance, ridden by Mathew Cahill. 
Earlier, the $50,000 Picnic Championship (1400m) saw $2.60 favourite Austin, trained by Rodney Robb and ridden by Mollie Partridge, romp away to a 4¾-length win. 
Carz claims cup
The Chris Waller-trained import Carzoff added a second provincial cup to his collection last Friday, taking the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m). 
Carzoff ($3.60 favourite), winner of the listed Wyong Cup (2100m) at his previous start, finished doggedly to wear down the topweight, Auvray, scoring by a long neck. 
“He got the splits at the right time and in the end (it was) a very satisfying win,” said stable rep Liam Prior. 
“He travelled sweetly to the bend, persisted for a run in the straight and once he got it he burst through."
Carzoff is now likely to be set for Saturday week’s Metropolitan. The win brought up a treble for jockey Kerrin McEvoy.
Cummings quinella
Earlier in the day, James Cummings and the Godolphin team landed the quinella in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) when the promising Aramayo, ridden by Tye Angland, defeated stablemate Cloak by three-quarters of a length. 
“We had a soft run early,” Angland said. “In the middle stages of the race, we ended up a little wider than what we wanted but he actually towed me into the race and he was able to show a nice turn of foot.
“He’s quite an exciting little horse.” 
The winner, who started a $6 favourite, will now probably target the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) on October 6 at Randwick according to assistant trainer Darren Beadman.
Princess reigns
In the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) the locally trained mare Princess Posh ($9.50) proved too strong for $3.30 favourite Savatiano, scoring by a length. 
“I had a nice, soft gate and being at home she really relished the conditions,” said winning jockey Glyn Schofield. 
“Great to win a stakes race with this mare. She’s been up for a terribly long time,” added trainer Kris Lees.
Tipperary too good
In the final race on the Newcastle card, jockey Tim Clark won his third consecutive Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) when $31 outsider New Tipperary, trained by Joseph Pride, scored by a length. 
The six-year-old proved too strong for Red Excitement with Best of Days third. 
“He really grows a leg — he improves significantly second up,” said Pride. 
“He should have won the Scone Cup second up last prep — he was tragically unlucky — so it was good to see him get into the clear today. A really good win over what looked to be a good field to my eye,”
Smith shock
Newcastle trainer Ben Smith has been suspended indefinitely after stewards raided his premises finding unlabelled and unregistered substances in bottles in his car, stables and house. 
Smith was subsequently charged with refusing to give evidence and providing false evidence to stewards, charges to which he has pleaded guilty. 
Stable stars In Her Time and El Dorado Dreaming have been transferred to fellow Newcastle trainer, Kris Lees. 
El Dorado Dreaming, who was to have run in the Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, had to be scratched when a urine sample revealed an irregularity suggesting the presence of a prohibited substance.