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Kris Lees has opted for an important gear change to hopefully give In Her Time an edge as she chases a third Group 1 victory at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The classy seven-year-old mare for the first time will race in blinkers in a star-studded $1.25m TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on the opening day of The Championships.

Brenton Avdulla will ride the dual Group 1 winner (2018 The Galaxy, 1100m at Rosehill Gardens and 2019 Black Caviar Lightning, 1000m at Flemington), who has drawn barrier five in a field of 13.

"I feel it is the right time to make the gear change," Lees said this afternoon.

"In Her Time  has done really well since her excellent first run back in The Galaxy at Rosehill (sixth to I Am Excited) a fortnight ago.

"They are going to go pretty quick, and this will give her the chance to pick them up at the end.

"I'm just hoping the rain stays away."

Whilst Lees acknowledges the TJ Smith is not going to be easy to win, he is adamant that, given her record, she is over the odds at her current $34 (Nature Strip is the $3.50 favorite).

In Her Time is nearing the end of her racing career before being offered for sale as a broodmare, and her trainer has not discounted running her again in Sydney in another Group 1; the wfa All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in a fortnight.

In Her Time will be Lees' sole Group 1 representative on Saturday, but he has several runners in supporting races on the 10-event card.

Raheen House (Hugh Bowman) and Fairlight (Avdulla) will line up in the Group 2 Chairman's Quality (2600m).

Fairlight also has a gear change but unlike In Her Time, blinkers are coming off.

"Raheen House has improved with each run, and his work has been really good," Lees said.

"He started favorite in the Ebor Handicap (2787m) at York last August (won by now stablemate Mustajeer), and the Chairman's looks a very suitable race for him.

"Fairlight raced a bit fiercely last time, hence the blinkers coming off, but needs to lift going up in class."

Elisa Carolina's dogged Wyong victory last Saturday earned her a shot at the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m), and Avdulla has the mount.

"She was tough last week, and has done well since, but obviously this is a more difficult assignment," Lees said.

Regimental Band (Glyn Schofield) is a definite starter in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) in spite of her wide draw.

"She will be strong late, but the 1200m might be a bit short for her," Lees said.

Recent winners Chianti and Zeftabrook were acceptors for the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) for two-year-olds, but neither are certain to run.

"Chianti has drawn awkwardly and most likely will trial instead on the Beaumont track in the morning, whilst we are leaning toward the Wellington Boot Showcase (1100m) on Sunday with Zeftabrook," Lees said.

Lees will break new ground if Zeftabrook goes to Wellington, as he has never previously started a youngster in the Wellington Boot, which this year carries a $200,000 purse at the Showcase meeting.

. Tigeen (Shaun Guymer) will be his sole runner, in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m), at Saturday's provincial meeting at Hawkesbury.

. Because of the new zone restrictions in Queensland, Lees cannot start horses in Brisbane but will have a number of runners tomorrow at the Gold Coast, where his horses are based.

Dual acceptor Intrinsic is likely to run in the Class 6 Handicap (1400m) rather than the Benchmark 72 Handicap over the same distance.

Scott Galloway will ride the mare in the former race.