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Kris Lees feels the roughie of his foursome is capable of an upset as he makes a last-ditch bid on home ground tomorrow to bolster his Summer Provincial Series Final squad.
Lees, who has played a major role in both runnings to date of the Series Final (High Power ran third to Bobbing in 2018 and Occupy won last year with stablemate Mr Garcia third), has four acceptors and an emergency in the fifth and final heat over 1350m at Newcastle.
His definite starters are Think Free (Aaron Bullock), Safado (Andrew Gibbons) and Itz Lily (Alysha Collett), whilst a decision will be made before the 7.30 scratching deadline in the morning whether Darleb (Jeff Penza) joins them.
"I'll see what happens weather wise overnight," Lees said late this afternoon.
"There's a chance I will hold Darleb back for a 1300m Benchmark 72 Handicap at Warwick Farm on Wednesday."
Whilst Think Free is a $10 outsider of his quartet, he feels she has a good chance of making her mark in tomorrow's race.
"She should not be judged on her two runs back in town from a lengthy break," he said.
"Think Free has taken improvement from both those runs, and looks nicely placed on her best form.
"I have a slight preference for her over stablemate Safado."
Lees withdrew Safado ($6.50) from an assignment on the Kensington track yesterday and, like Think Free, he has also drawn well.
Itz Lily ($7.50), who finished sixth behind Occupy in last year's final at Gosford, is resuming and has drawn awkwardly.
"She hasn't raced since August and is likely to need this run, especially having drawn poorly," Lees said.
Lees qualified six horses for last year's Final, and already has Spanish Point, Occupy and Game of Thorns qualified for the $150,000 Final (1600m) at Wyong on January 2.
"None of that trio will start again before the final," Lees said.
"Spanish Point raced on the Kensington track yesterday, Occupy trialled nicely at Wyong this morning and Game Of Thorns is fit and won't need another race before January 2."
With third emergency Great Danger unlikely to gain a start in the fifth heat tomorrow, he will run in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m), in which stablemate Elegant Grace is also an acceptor, but not certain to start.
"Great Danger has plenty of weight (60.5kg), but is dropping in class," Lees said.
"He has had two runs back, and I've given him a gap between his last run on November 26 (fifth in the Wyong heat of the Summer Series.
"I'll be disappointed if he doesn't run well."
. Mongolian Wolf is Lees' sole representative at tomorrow's Royal Randwick meeting. Hugh Bowman rides him in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (2000m), and his trainer has decided to race him minus blinkers.
"I'm trying something different, and the wetter the better for him," Lees said.
"But he needs to run well for us to consider backing him up in the Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Boxing Day."
Snowzone (Andrew Mallyon) is Lees only runner at Doomben tomorrow, and his trainer also says "the wetter the better" for his prospects.
"He likes Doomben, and is good on wet ground," Lees said.