Lees accepted with four for Saturday's $150,000 qualifier (1400m) but said Jack's Bar was an unlikely starter.

Newcastle's premier trainer will rely on Da Power, European import Occupy and Gerry Harvey-owned Stella Sea Sun in Saturday's race.

Occupy has not raced since January 11 when he finished midfield in a benchmark 78 1800m event at Randwick. This horse loves to be fresh and all four of his wins have been first or second-up.

Three of his four wins have been in Australia and Lees' apprentice, Samantha Clenton, has ridden the import in all of his seven starts since arriving.

In December, the five-year-old won a heat of the Provincial Summer Series at Hawkesbury then the $150,000 final at Gosford.

Stella Sea Sun has won five of her 12 starts and placed five times. In the winter, the mare won races at Rosehill and on the Kensington track at Randwick. She was narrowly beaten over 1400m on the Kensington track in June and she races well fresh.

Stella Sea Sun is the early favourite with the TAB at $3.70 but Lees leans slightly towards Occupy ($7).

The pair have both had freshen-ups and have had a recent trial.

"I suppose Occupy and Stella Sea Sun are the two that standout from our point of view," Lees said.

"Occupy won that summer series over a mile, but he's questionable at 1400.

"We've tried to keep him as fresh as we can. He wants further but he'll be strong late and I expect there will be a little bit of tempo in the race, so that should help.

"Stella Sea Sun has been racing well in town, in Saturday company, but she's going six weeks between runs, so that's some concern because I think 1400 is probably as far as she wants. But she's coming out of some strong enough races to drop back to this kind of race.

"Da Power will put himself on speed. He's had a bit of an interrupted preparation. He was scratched at the barriers at Canterbury when he hit his head and he had to trial, so not the ideal preparation, but he will put himself forward and he's a tough horse on speed."

Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley has two strong chances in the qualifier in mares Moana Jewel and Joigny and both are well credentialed.

Moana Jewel has been placed in her past two metropolitan starts, while Joigny placed at Canterbury last start.

Lees should kick the day off with a winner when his Snitzel filly Snitzari contests the opening event, the 900m two-year-old maiden plate.

Raced by Australian Bloodstock, Snitzari drops sharply in class after a debut fifth in the black type Lonhro Plate at Randwick two weeks ago.

"I thought Snitzari went OK in a much tougher race on debut," Lees said.

"She jumped quick but had a tough run three wide outside the leaders. The filly has drawn nicely and she will be hard to beat over 900 metres."