KRIS Lees is eyeing a Newcastle Cup shot with Loveisili if the four-year-old can maintain its exciting form at Randwick on Saturday after a short let-up.
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The former Great Britain gelding has won his past three starts, at Hawkesbury, Canterbury and Warwick Farm, in midweek company after starting his Australian career with a half-length second at Newcastle.
His most recent win was over 2110 metres at Warwick Farm on June 12 in a benchmark 74 and he takes on a 78 handicap from gate two over 1800m on Saturday in his first crack at Saturday city company.
Experienced Muswellbrook-based apprentice Sammie Clenton has the ride, taking the weight for Loveisili to 58 kilograms from 60kg.
Lees was keen to eventually test the import over longer and was hopeful of getting him to his home cup, the Newcastle group 3 feature over 2300m, on September 20.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Loveisili back at the races," Lees said on Friday.
"He hasn't raced for a month, he's just had a bit of a freshen up, but he's a nice horse and has won his last three.
"I'm probably setting him for longer races, but I think he will run well tomorrow.
"If his form warranted it, he might get to a Newcastle Cup, but we'll see where he gets to."
Loveisili is Lees' best at Randwick and was a $4.20 second elect behind the Chris Waller-trained Toryjoy ($3.70) with TAB Fixed Odds on Friday.
At Eagle Farm, Lees has two genuine hopes in the listed $200,000 Queensland Cup (3200m) in Doukhan ($5) and Saunter Boy ($8).
Like Loveisili, the imports will carry the colours of Hunter-based syndicators Australian Bloodstock.
Doukhan, a 10-year-old wet-track specialist, was a last-start second to Azuro in the Stayers' Cup (3200m) on a heavy Rosehill surface on June 29. Saunter Boy was fifth last start in the Caloundra Cup (2400m) on a Heavy 10 at Sunshine Coast.
They will likely hit a good-rated surface on Saturday but Lees gave both a chance.
"The heavy is his preferred surface, to be fair, and I hope it doesn't dry up too much, but he's in good form," he said of Douhkan.
"He ran really well last start, he loves the two mile and he's got up there in good order, so it wouldn't shock me if he won.
"The other horse has probably made the right kind of improvement to be competitive with the blinkers on for the first time."
Lees and Australian Bloodstock combined to win with Cerinthe Belle at Taree on Friday, giving the Newcastle trainer 244 winners for the season.
It was part of a winning double for Newcastle jockey Andrew Gibbons, who went to 132 for the campaign with victory on Roy's Command for Lower Belford trainer Todd Howlett.
Newcastle trainer Paul Perry, which has a genuine hope with Condor at Randwick on Saturday, combined with Clenton to win with Jamaican Dream at Taree.