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Kris Lees will saddle up two runners in the Randwick City Stakes, headed by Sydney Cup hopeful Luncies.
Trainer Kris Lees has issued a caution to punters as he prepares Luncies to take another important step towards the Sydney Cup when he heads to Randwick for his second-up run.
The five-year-old underlined his staying promise in the spring, finishing fourth to Great House in the Newcastle Cup (2300m) and second to Warning in the St Leger (2600m) at what was his first Australian campaign.
He returned with a closing fifth to Frosty Rocks over a mile at Randwick last month and will appreciate a distance rise to 2000m in Saturday's Randwick City Stakes.
However, Lees isn't so sure he will appreciate the heavy conditions.
"Luncies is going very well. He will definitely run, but I'm a bit guarded about him on heavy ground," Lees said.
The Newcastle horseman also saddles up veteran Mustajeer in the same race and has made a gear change in the hope of sparking him back to form.
Group 1 placed behind Verry Elleegant in the 2020 Tancred Stakes, the nine-year-old is on notice to lift his game.
"Mustajeer, at his age now, is looking for soft ground. Whether he wants a bottomless track, I'm not sure," Lees said.
"Blinkers go on, so he probably needs to show us something and get back to some type of form."
The in-form Mightybeel is a $3.60 favourite for the Randwick City Stakes with Luncies at $11 and Mustajeer at $26.