Special Reward will be on trial for a Newcastle Newmarket start when he contests the group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200 metres) at Randwick on Saturday.
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The four-year-old has had just two runs for top Newcastle trainer Kris Lees since Hunter syndicators Australian Bloodstock bought the gelding, which won six of 10 starts for West Australian trainer Simon Miller.
He was sixth on debut at Rosehill for Lees in November over 1100m then was a length second to Southern Lad at Randwick when favourite and the front-runner over 1200m on January 11.
Lees said this week that Special Reward was an ideal horse for the Newcastle Newmarket, which he won last year for the first time with another Australian Bloodstock runner, Princess Posh.
Brenton Avdulla was aboard Princess Posh in that race and he takes over from Aaron Bullock on Special Reward from gate five in the eight-horse event.
Special Reward was a $2.60 favourite with the TAB at Randwick, which was rated a Heavy 8 on Friday.
"Special Reward is one win from one start on soft ground, but has never raced on a heavy track," Lees said told his website this week.
"You can never be sure until they do, but he gives the impression he will handle it OK.
"I have given him plenty of time between his first-up run and Saturday's race, and he is in terrific order.
"The Southern Cross looks a nice race for Special Reward, especially coming in on the limit [53 kilograms]."
The group 3 Newcastle Newmarket (1400m) is on March 6.
Lees will also have fillies Fall On A Star ($11) and Snitzari ($19) in the listed Lonhro Plate (1000m) for two-year-olds and Regimental Band ($41) in the group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Lower Belford trainer Todd Howlett was hoping a scratching would give him two hopes in the class three Highway Handicap (1800m) to open the Randwick program.
Howlett has Sir Leo ($6.50) in the field and Apache Junction ($23), which was the next emergency on Friday.
Sir Leo has been a close second over 1400m then 1500m at Tamworth and Muswellbrook respectively at his past two starts but is untested on heavy going heading to his first Highway handicap.
"There's a big question on the heavy track, but he's been doing well and it looks a nice race for him," Howlett said.
"Once he got to the mile, he was really competitive, so I think the 1800 will suit him.
"[Apache Junction] ran in a Highway before and came fourth, and I think the soft will suit him for sure."
Howlett is looking to the country championships with Magic Choir and Two Big Fari
