Danceteria came to Australia last spring as a group 1 winner in Germany. However, he was a scratched from the Caulfield Stakes because of illness then was last in the Cox Plate. He was later found to have a respiratory infection.

The five-year-old was then transferred to Lees and he runs first-up for the Newcastle trainer in the $600,000 group 1. With the outside barrier in 14, he is expected to get back in a class field.

Webster advised stewards on Friday that Happy Clapper would be ridden forward from barrier 10 and he expected the veteran to settle outside anticipated leader Dreamforce. It was news warmly received by Lees.

"The more horses that go forward, the better from our perspective because we'll be out the back," Lees said.

"It's a tough race, we're under no illusions there, but his best hope is if there's a genuine tempo. If the leaders get a soft tempo up front, they are too good to run down.

"He's a proven group 1 performer so he doesn't look out of place and I think he'll run well, too."

Lees has won first-up with Australian Bloodstock imports Mugatoo and Mustajeer in the past fortnight. Mugatoo was returning from injury and Mustajeer from a poor Melbourne Cup run.

Both wins were at a lesser level to Saturday's assignment but Lees was confident Danceteria was ready to step up.

"I've seen nothing to suggest he's had an issue, so hopefully it doesn't show up here," he said.

Lees also has El Dorado Dreaming building towards the Coolmore Classic in the group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m).

She is first-up since 10^th in the Villiers Stakes on December 14.

"She's had a nice freshen up, and this is a nice lead-up to the Coolmore Classic in two weeks' time," he said.

"She was second in the Coolmore last year so we'll target it again."

Attention Run will contest the benchmark 88 handicap over 2000m. She was finishing strongly when a first-up fifth on a heavy Warwick Farm track over 1600m two weeks ago.

"It maybe a run short but it's a nice option for her going forward," Lees said.

She will carry three kilograms more than her nearest rival.

"It's a good leveller for her, she's not a big mare, so I think this run will really top her off, but she's capable," he said.

Juventus and Asharani will contest the last for Lees, who is looking to the Kembla Grange provincial championship heat with the pair in three weeks.

** Racing NSW Stewards on Friday declared Awesome Pluck ineligible for the Country Championships after it was discovered that the gelding was stabled at the premises of Barry Lockwood at Eagle Farm in Queensland for a period leading up to the Mid North Coast Country Championships event at Taree on Sunday, February 23.

Stewards determined this to be a contravention of the 2020 Country Championships race conditions, and accordingly, have declared Awesome Pluck ineligible.