LUCIA VALENTINA SECURES A START IN MELBOURNE CUP

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has confirmed that his runner, Lucia Valentina, will start in the Melbourne Cup, after finishing a gallant third in Saturday’s big race at Caulfield.

Lees was contemplating entering the four-year-old in this weekend’s Cox Plate, but has now decided to rest her in order to prepare for the race that stops a nation.

Lucia Valentina is currently attracting odds of around seven dollars.