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By Ray Hickson

He’s very much a talent to be fully harnessed but trainer Kris Lees sees a bright future for youngster Damien as he steps up in trip in the St John’s Park Bowling Club Clarendon Stakes (1400m) at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

Trainer Kris Lees (Pic: Steve Hart)

The Hellbent colt showed a glimpse with a promising debut back in January and showed Lees he’s taken a step forward with a dominant first-up win at Newcastle three weeks ago.

“I think he’s come back a bit better, he’s still a bit raw but he’s a horse with some upside I’d suggest,’’ Lees said.

“He was strong through the line which is what we wanted to see.

“He’s always given us the indication 1400m will suit and everything he’s shown us so far says he will run well.”

Of course Lees has Rivellino, who ran fourth in the Golden Slipper and fifth in the Inglis Sires’, as his benchmark for two-year-olds this season and he feels Damien, $3.90 with TAB on Thursday, is a horse with some substance.

If he does have a minor concern going to Hawkesbury it’s how testing the ground will be but he’s comfortable enough that a soft track won’t harm his chances.

“He’s given the indication he will be able to measure up and he’s progressing the right way,’’ he said.

“As long as he handles the ground he will be very competitive.”

Lees is yet to win the Group 3 $250,000 Richmond Club Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) but he expects Tavi Time to be right in the finish as usual in the feature.

The five-year-old resumed with a pleasing second behind Sandpaper at Randwick two weeks ago and Lees said he couldn’t have run any better under the circumstances of the race.

Tavi Time clocked a race best last 200m of 12.46 (Punter’s Intelligence) and will drop 4kg into the Cup.

“He hit the line strongly chasing a good speed. He was at his top a long way out,’’ he said.

“The other day nothing took him into the race so he had to do it all himself, hopefully he finds a good drag into the race.

“The alley is a bit of a concern but late in the day you probably don’t want to be hard on the fence. He gives every indication he will run well again, he’s an honest horse.”

Bubba’s Bay resumes for Lees alongside stablemate Brudenell in the Listed $200,000 Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush (1100m) and he’s anticipating both will be competitive.

The mare, a winner of 11 from 26, is resuming since a close second in the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares event at the Gold Coast in January but she is yet to win first-up.

“She’s a very consistent mare who should run well,’’ he said.

“She often takes a run so it’s a good start off point for the prep all the same.”

A month’s gap between runs sees Brudenell, who has a similarly solid record of 10 wins from 26 starts, fresh for the Rush after a below par run in the Star Kingdom (1200m).

Damien wins at Newcastle on April 12

“I don’t think the gap will worry him, he’s had a tickover trial, and he profiles like the right sort of horse,’’ Lees said.

Kris Lees on Imposant (race 10): “She‘s really found her form and if she can maintain her Provincial Championships form it will stand her in good stead. A bit of sting out doesn’t bother her.”

On Pier Pressure (race 10): “She will probably take the run but she does like soft ground. She found her form last preparation and hopefully she can go on with it.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Hawkesbury meeting