Bastia provides some solace for Kris Lees

Bastia
Bastia has made up for his stablemate Graff’s Doomben scratching with an easy Randwick win.

Bastia has provided trainer Kris Lees with some consolation after promising colt Graff was a late scratching from the Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes at Doomben.

The four-year-old gelding notched the fourth win of his 17-race career when surging to a 2-1/4 length victory as the $3.50 favourite for the EML Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.

Minutes earlier Graff was ruled out of the Sires’ Produce Stakes when he became fractious in the barriers.

“Obviously there’s mixed emotions with what happened in Queensland but it’s good to get a result,” said Lees’ stable representative Lucas Miller.

“Brenton (Avdulla) rode the race to suit him, the track conditions really suited him as well and he let down accordingly.”

Central Witness ($21) was second and Vaucluse Bay ($4.60) was a short head third.

Miller said Bastia would stick to Sydney over winter where wet tracks will be beneficial.

“He’s just a consistent Saturday type horose so we’ll keep chasing prize money,” he said.

Avdulla, who earlier rode The Autumn Sun to victory ahead of the colt’s trip to the Group One JJ Atkins at Doomben, protected his Sydney jockeys’ premiership lead with an early double.

“He travelled comfortable, I dropped back to the fence at the 600 and my bloke really towed me through and off that gallop he really extended nicely,” he said.

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