Lees claimed the 2019-20 NSW trainers' crown on Friday with 193 winners in his home state, ending the eight-season reign of national and Sydney champion Chris Waller (179.5).

The victory was an unprecedented feat for a Hunter-based trainer. He also had 215.5 winners overall to again finish fourth in the Australian premiership.

It was the second year in a row he had gone past 200, after achieving a personal best 249 victories in 2018-19.

Lees' number of starters in each of the past two seasons were almost identical and he said the size of his team was "pretty similar".

He started the new season with a win on Saturday from Tycoon Street on the Gold Coast.

However, Lees believed last season's winning total would be hard to repeat.

"I've got to say that next year I'd be pretty surprised if we have those figures again because we're probably down a little on numbers," Lees said from the Gold Coast Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on Monday.

"But it all levels out. We'll wait and see."

Lees' premiership was built on his domination of country racing in NSW with 115 wins, after scoring 127 the previous season. He had 35 metropolitan victories after 36 in 2018-19.

Asked if he was aiming for more quality than quantity with his team this season, the 15-time group 1 winner said: "I think so, but whether that all comes through, I don't know.

"We cater for all types and we race in all areas, so we've got to cater for all types.

"You always like to improve but you've got try to keep that consistency as well."

Lees created Hunter racing history with the NSW premiership, much in the way his late father, Max, did when he was twice runner-up in the Sydney premiership while based in Newcastle.

"That's probably better," Kris said of his father's feat.

"Sydney is where you want to be winning the races, of course, but that said, our prizemoney in provincial and country racing is so good now, it's just as good to be racing there sometimes as it is to be racing midweek in town.

"You've just got to have the right horses, able to progress through their grades and get wins in the right areas.

"I don't get too carried away with premierships.

"We've got a big number of horses so it's only natural we're going to be around that figure I suppose.

"But I've got a great staff on the ground and in the office, so I'm very fortunate that I've got the right people around.

"It's as much their success as it is mine."

Meanwhile, Newcastle Jockey Club has decided to bring back a ban on trackside spectators for this Saturday's meeting after recent cases of COVID-19 in the region.

Members were advised on Monday that only participants and owners with horses racing would be allowed to attend the meeting.

The club had begun to welcome back patrons, in line with social distancing requirements, at their most recent meetings early last month.

However, NJC chief Matt Benson said confirmed cases nearby in recent days had led to the club reverting to more stringent protocols for their first meeting since July 7.

"We are just erring on the side of caution before the spring carnival," Benson said.

"It seems to us that the next couple of weeks are going to be crucial as far as how this all pans out for not just NSW, but Newcastle."

The NJC hopes to welcome back crowds for their September 18-19 spring carnival.

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