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Trainer Kris Lees says Sense Of Occasion is going well on the eve of his first-up tilt at Saturday’s $250,000 Villiers Stakes at Randwick.

Although better known as a middle-distance performer, the six-year-old is not without admirers in the 1600m G2 feature, especialy now the track will be seriously rain affected.

“I would have liked to have given him a lead-up race over something a little shorter, but it wasn’t to be,” Lees said.

“Sense Of Occasion trialled strongly at Gosford in preparation for this race, and has an inside barrier. He is going well.”

Melbourne jockey Ben Melham has the mount on Sense Of Occasion but It is not the first time he has ridden for Lees.

He partnered Twist Tops as a two-year-old on Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley in October last year.

Sense Of Occasion won the Listed Premier’s Cup (1900m) at Rosehill in late August and then raced well without winning in the G3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2200m), G1 Metropolitan (2400m) and Listed City Tattersall’s Club Cup (2400m), finishing just behind the placegetters in all races.

Lees said he planned to target summer features with Sense Of Occasion, who has won twice from six first-up attempts.

“We gave him a short break with the idea of having a shot at suitable races over the summer. After the Villiers, he will run in the Gosford Cup and Australia Day Cup,” Lees said.

The $150,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) will be run on January 13 and the $150,000 Australia Day Cup (2400m) on January 26.

Lees has Time Out Of Mind (Hugh Bowman) and Twist Tops (Glyn Schofield) in the $250,000 Inglis Sprint (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Time Out Of Mind made an impressive winning debut at Gosford on December 1, whilst Twist Tops ran sixth to stablemate Upscale over 1100m at Rosehill on November 26.

“It’s a big jump from a Gosford maiden to a set weights race but Time Out Of Mind is a promising young horse,” Lees said.

“With that sort of prizemoney on offer, we’re having a throw at the stumps.

“Twist Tops is probably looking for a bit further than 1100m now, and has drawn poorly.

“I’m putting blinkers back on her in the hope they will sharpen her up.”

Lees also has Press Report (Andrew Adkins) and Upscale (Brenton Avdulla) in the BM 85 Handicap (1200m) for fillies and mares on Saturday.

He has booked apprentice Adkins to take advantage of his claim, lessening Press Report’s 61.5kg topweight by 2kg.

“I was really happy with Press Report’s first-up placing and feel sure she will run well again in spite of her big weight,” Lees said.

“Upscale is in great form, and has the rails alley. She continues to get better with each run.”

Lees has again called on another Victorian jockey Dean Yendall to partner his other Randwick runner Brook Road in the Razor Sharp Quality (1200m).

Yendall rode Brook Road when seventh to Kuro in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on December 3.

“I thought she ran a nice race that day,” Lees said. “I’m pleased to have Dean ride her again.”