Thursday, 5 July 2012:
The weather will determine which path trainer Kris Lees takes with veteran sprinter Motspur although a start at Rosehill is favoured.
The nine-year-old has been paid up for Saturday's Westend Mazda Sprint (1100m) in Sydney and is also among nominations for Wednesday's Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton (1200m).
He is one of six horses in the Rosehill race entered for the Ramornie along with Welkom Gold, Skytrain, See The World, Eight Bills and Sutton Queen.
Given Motspur's aversion to wet tracks, Lees says he will wait until Saturday morning to decide where the gelding runs.
"He will probably stay here but it's weather-dependent," Lees said.
"If we get too much rain or it rains on the day then I'll probably scratch him on Saturday."
Welkom Gold's trainer Darren Smith is also hedging his bets.
The speedster will carry 57kg at Rosehill after the claim of apprentice Shaun Guymer and connections are keen to see what impost he receives for the Ramornie with weights published on Friday.
"I'll have a yarn to the owners once we see what weight he gets," Smith said.
"I'm leaning more to Saturday but it's probably 60-40."
Motspur was third to Jerezana in the Ramornie last year and showed he had lost little of his zest with a brave first-up win in the Listed Prydes Easifeed Quality at Scone.
He beat just one runner home in the June Stakes last start when Lees said he wasn't comfortable on the slow track.
"If you read his form (on rain-affected tracks) it's not that bad but as he's got older he just pulls up if there's too much give in the ground," Lees said.
Motspur's early career was hindered by injury while Welkom Gold has also had his share of issues.
He spent 18 months on the sidelines with a strained tendon before returning in May this year.
He was 10th to Motspur at Scone and sixth in the June Stakes with a recent barrier trial topping up his fitness.
"I thought his run was very good last start, he just gassed out the last half-furlong (100m) but he's well within himself and we've just kept him ticking over since then," Smith said.
Smith and Lees are locked in a close battle for the Newcastle trainers' premiership and will resume their rivalry at Broadmeadow on Saturday.
Lees has won the title for the past four years and holds a half-win advantage over Smith with three meetings remaining until season's end.
