NEWCASTLE: Thursday, February 21, 2019: KRIS Lees is not fazed about Le Romain’s outside draw at Caulfield on Saturday as the triple Group 1 winner chases one of the last three places in the $5m All Star Mile line-up.

Le Romain arrived in Melbourne this morning after an overnight float trip from his Newcastle base, to contest the $500,000 Group 1 wfa Futurity Stakes (1400m).

“He arrived in terrific order, and settled in quickly at his Flemington stable,” Lees said this afternoon.

“I don’t hate his outside draw; it might actually work in his favour.

“He isn’t a horse who likes being cluttered up.”

Lees, who clinched his 15th Group 1 success when In Her Time captured last Saturday’s $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington, has both Le Romain and last year’s Futurity winner Brave Smash running for him on Saturday.

Whilst former Japanese stallion Brave Smash is unlikely to be an All Star Mile contender, Lees is very keen to get Le Romain a berth in the 14-horse field for the inaugural $5m event at Flemington on March 16.

Eleven places – 10 by public vote and Happy Clapper was announced this morning as the first of four wildcards – have already been decided.

“Realistically, Le Romain has to run first or second or be very unlucky on Saturday to gain one of the remaining wildcards,” Lees said.

“He is in great shape and I’m sure he will run well.”

Damien Oliver is a new rider for Le Romain, who is on the verge of passing $4m in stakemoney, whilst Michael Walker again partners Brave Smash.

Lees has decided to put blinkers back on Brave Smash, who has raced without them in both his runs this preparation.

He looked like winning the Group 1 Orr Stakes over the Futurity course on February 9 100m out before finishing a close fourth to Manuel.

“It was always the plan to revert to blinkers, and he should get a cosy run from the soft gate,” Lees said.

“We’re going into the race with two strong chances.”

Lees is uncertain of dual Group 1 winner Brave Smash’s immediate racing future after the Futurity, but said he could even be freshened for another crack at the $1.25m VRC Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9. With 56.5kg, he ran second to Redkirk Warrior in last year’s Group 1 feature (subsequent Ascot Diamond Jubilee Stakes winner Merchant Navy was third).

Lees already holds a strong Newmarket hand with Lightning winner In Her Time and fourth placegetter Graff.

Talented three-year-old Gem Song is out of Saturday’s Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens, and stablemates The Tenor (3YO Handicap, 1100m) and Serene Miss (Benchmark 94 Handicap, 1100m) are doubtful runners also in their respective races because of wide draws.

On veterinary advice as a result of a skin infection, Lees this morning withdrew first-up Warwick Farm winner Gem Song from a clash with boom three-year-old The Autumn Sun in the Hobartville.

But he remains hopeful of still getting him to the post for the $1m Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Royal Randwick on March 9.

“It’s not serious and I might run him at Randwick on Saturday week as his lead-up to the Guineas,” Lees said.

Now eight-year-old Sense Of Occasion (Brenton Avdulla), who won the 2017 Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on heavy ground but has been unplaced at six subsequent starts, returns on Saturday in the 1500m Handicap, and Lees will have three representatives – Singing (Glyn Schofield) and recent acquisitions Big Duke (Avdulla) and Red Cardinal (Jason Collett) – in the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m).

“I’ve taken blinkers off Sense Of Occasion and he will have the cut out of the ground to suit,” Lees said.

“His performance on Saturday will tell us where we are at with him.

“Singing knocked up at his first run back in 10 months in the Gosford Cup last month, and can definitely improve on Saturday.

“Big Duke and Red Cardinal have settled in well since arriving here, and are being prepared for the Sydney Cup (3200m at Randwick on April 13, Day 2 of The Championships).”

Lees will race Red Cardinal without blinkers.