KRIS Lees has started a hometown Hunter meeting on a winning note, by claiming his late father's race for the very first time.
The experienced trainer, surrounded by his family, soaked up a special victory at Newcastle on Saturday after Gobi Desert held on to salute in the Max Lees Classic (900 metres).
"It's an honour to have a race named after dad and an honour to win it," Lees said.
Gobi Desert, owned by Yu Long Investments and a half sister of In Her Time, led in the straight and starved off efforts from Good Hotspur and Buffalo to open the stand-alone meeting.
The official margin was 0.49 lengths and Gobi Desert, ridden by Tim Clark, paid $10 on TAB fixed odds.
"To win a city race on debut is a nice start to her career," Lees said.
"It's not easy to win a two-year-old city race at this time of year."
Lees' other runner, Rustemo, was fourth in the two-year-old sprint.
The Max Lees Classic started in 2017.
In terms of his chances later on the program, including Rustic Steel in the $1 million Hunter feature, Lees said: "I'll take one win, but I'd be happy with a couple more".
Harlow Mist won the second at Newcastle.
