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By John Schell

Top local trainer Kris Lees is looking forward to saddling up the son of one of his former stable stars when Logan Downs debuts in Tuesday’s Newcastle Tourism & Industry Group Provincial Maiden Plate (1300m).

Raced by Ron and Judy Wanless, Logan Downs is a three-year-old gelding by Shalaa and out of former smart race mare Serene Miss which also sported the Wanless colours.

Trainer Kris Lees (Pic: Steve Hart)

“Logan Downs is a horse that has taken a bit of time,” said Lees.

“He’s had five trials in total going back to February when he won the first of them at Hawkesbury.

“He had another two in June and then two more last month and he’s ready to go to the races now.”

Dylan Gibbons will ride Logan Downs in the Newcastle event, with Lees excited to see the son of Serene Miss step out.

“Serene Miss was a very good horse to us,” Lees said.

“While she only had the 10 starts, she managed to win six of them. She won a couple at Canterbury and then won a Provincial Championships Qualifier at Gosford to get into the final of that race.

“She then came out and scored a dominant win in the Provincial Championships Final at Randwick, a half million-dollar race. It’s good to have another of her progeny stepping out to start.”

Lees will also have the resuming Power Of The Brave lining up in the TAB App Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (900m) with William Stanley in the saddle.

The trainer also has a three-pronged attack in The Prince Of Merewether Hotel 5YO&Up Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m) with Surreal I Am (Stanley), Like Lukey (Aaron Bullock) and Shuri (Gibbons) going around.

“Power Of The Brave is first-up from a spell in his event, and he was racing well enough in city grade before the break,” said Lees.

“He’s had a couple of trials and should run well fresh.

“Surreal I Am won well at Newcastle at his latest start and should be thereabouts again, while Like Lukey comes out of the same race and can improve. Shuri has drawn wide and needs some luck.”

All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Newcastle meeting