Invincible Gem ($17), with Brenton Avdulla aboard, lifted late in the 1200-metre group 2 weight-for-age on Saturday to put a scare through backers of odds-on favourite Alizee ($1.30), which held on by a long neck on the line under Hugh Bowman.

Three-time group 1 winner Le Romain ($7.50), with James McDonald in the saddle, faded on his run to finish third, almost five lengths from the James Cummings-trained winner.

Lees was encouraged by the run of six-year-old mare Invincible Gem, which won the Missile Stakes in 2017 and was resuming after breaking a drought with victory in the group 2 Emancipation Stakes last preparation.

The Newcastle trainer said his pair would likely race second-up in the Winx Stakes in two weeks.

"I'd say so, that's the plan at this stage," Lees said of Invincible Gem going to the 1400m WFA race, formerly the Warwick Stakes, at Randwick.

"Le Romain will probably still go there, we'll just see how he is.

"His run was just OK. He'll certainly improve off the run and he needed the run."

Lees, who won the Casino Cup on Saturday with Powerline, said Loveisili had done enough at Rosehill to race on to the next month's Newcastle Cup (2300m).

Loveisili was seventh in the 2000m benchmark 78 handicap but was two lengths from winner Hogmanay after making up ground late down the inside.

"It was a good run and it was a bit unlucky," Lees said.

"He ran well. He didn't have a lot of room, but he was good."

Lees said Saunter Boy, Our Candidate, Red Cardinal and Attention Run were other potential runners for the group 3 Newcastle Cup on September 20.

** Champion Cessnock jockey Robert Thompson will chase a north Queensland treble with The Harrovian next month after taking out the $150,000 Cairns Cup with him on Saturday.

Thompson claimed his sixth Cairns Cup with ease, piloting the $2.40 favourite to an almost three-length win as part of a hat-trick on the program.

The veteran also guided the Stephen Massingham-trained gelding to the Townsville Cup and will be aboard when he contests the Far North Queensland Amateur Cup in Cairns on September 14.

Connections will win a $200,000 bonus if The Harrovian takes out all three of the Northern Crown series races.

"You'll need a crowbar to get me off him," Thompson told Sky Racing.

"He travelled absolutely brilliant.

"He probably just got there a touch early, but I couldn't wait no longer and he actually pulled his way to the lead, and he was very strong.

"He's a lovely horse."

Thompson earlier won on the Rod Miller-trained Via Balciano and the Sharlee D'Avila-trained Mister Magnusifent.