NEWCASTLE: Monday, February 25, 2019: GEM Song’s Randwick Guineas prospects hinge on a Newcastle track gallop in the morning.

The talented three-year-old missed a clash with boom colt The Autumn Sun in last Saturday’s Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens because of a skin infection.

Kris Lees is keen to start his first-up winner at Royal Randwick on Saturday, otherwise he will not be ready for the $1m Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) there a week later.

“Gem Song has improved, and hopefully he will come through the gallop in the morning without any further drama,” Lees said this afternoon.

Lees today nominated Gem Song for both Saturday’s Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) and the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m).

He is favouring taking on older sprinters in the Cup, and regular rider Jason Collett will partner the Gooree Stud-owned Your Song colt provided he is given the all-clear.

Gem Song underlined his potential with an impressive victory on resumption in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 9, despite making his run on inferior ground toward the inside in the straight.

Lees won the 2016 Randwick Guineas with Le Romain (Christian Reith) at only his seventh start. He had run second in both the Eskimo Prince (to Spill The Beans) and Hobartville (to Press Statement) before upsetting the latter in the Guineas when a $21 chance.

Gem Song has raced only six times for four wins and two placings.

El Dorado Dreaming will have a new rider when she and Miss Fabulass (Kerrin McEvoy) contest Saturday’s $500,000 Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) for three-year-old fillies.

Brenton Avdulla has been booked for El Dorado Dreaming, last season’s Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) winner, who was an excellent first-up fourth to Nakeeta Jane in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 16.

Miss Fabulass drew poorly that day and never got into the race, finishing ninth.

Lees nominated six fillies for the Surround, but will rely on El Dorado Dreaming and Miss Fabulass.

Imports Red Cardinal and Big Duke, first and second respectively in last Saturday’s Listed Parramataa Cup (1900m) at Rosehill when having their first starts for Lees, both have pulled up well.

“The soft track definitely helped them,” Lees said. “I haven’t decided on definite lead-up races, but they are heading toward the Sydney Cup ($2m 3200m Group 1 at Randwick on April 13).”

Invincible Gem will run in either Saturday’s Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) or Friday week’s Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket (1400m).

Lees hasn’t yet given up on Le Romain getting a start in the $5m All Star Mile at Flemington on March 16, but concedes his chances probably disappeared when eighth to ruling favourite Alizee in last Saturday’s Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

“It wasn’t a bad run at all,” Lees said. “He had to do too much work, and was less than two lengths from the winner.

“We’ll keep him in Melbourne until the final three wildcards for the All Star Mile are announced.

“If he misses out, he will likely come home for the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday week.”

Stablemate Brave Smash, a luckless seventh in the Futurity after not getting a clear run in the straight, will run in either the Group 1 Newmarket (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday week – he ran second last year to Redkirk Warrior after winning the Futurity – or return for the Canterbury Stakes the same day.

An overseas trip for the feature Alquoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night (March 30) is also on the cards for dual Group 1 winner Brave Smash, who is heading for a stud career at Aquis Farm.

Whilst Lees missed qualifying either Juventus (4th) or Road To Heaven (11th) in yesterday’s opening $150,000 Provincial Championships heat at Hawkesbury, he is looking ahead to Saturday week’s second heat on his home track.

At this stage, his likely representatives will be Turnberry and Bastia.

Lees has won two of the four runnings of the Provincial Final; with Danish Twist in 2016 and another mare Serene Miss last year.