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But the Listed Darley Scone Cup so far has eluded him.

To be fair, he hasn't had a lot of runners, but feels a breakthrough is on the cards tomorrow in the 1600m event.

Lees had three acceptors, but has withdrawn Big Duke to rely on topweight Sixties Groove  (Andrew Gibbons) and Chief Ironside (Sam Clenton) – both raced by Australian Bloodstock and clients.

"I think Chief Ironside has a great chance," he said this afternoon.

"I probably expected a bit more from him first-up at Randwick a month ago, but he has come on really well since that race.

"He proved his class in Australia by winning the Group 2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley last October, and was also second up then.

"Sixties Groove is resuming and can sprint well fresh, but hasn't won under 2000m. He ran third first-up last year in the Hawkesbury Cup (1600m) before a successful Brisbane winter campaign which included winning the Brisbane Cup (2400m)."

Chief Ironside was having his first start since joining Lees' team when, with 60kg, he finished 10th to Ranier in the Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on April 18.

He drops 1.5kg tomorrow. Sixties Groove carries 61kg, 4kg more than in his Group 2 Brisbane Cup triumph at Eagle Farm nearly 12 months ago.

Lees' feature Scone scalps include the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (Romare in 2004 and Danish Twist in 2016), Listed Luskin Star Stakes (Clearly Innocent, 2017), Listed Ortensia Stakes (Motspur in 2011 and again in 2012), and Inglis 2YO Challenge (Excelamour in 2017).

Lees has The Bopper (Clenton) lining up in tomorrow's Inglis 2YO Challenge (1100m), and the youngster is at odds-on on the basis of an impressive debut victory in the Romantic Dream 2YO Plate (1000m) at Tamworth on April 26.

"The form from the race reads well," Lees said. "Runner-up Zorocat had performed well in town before going to Tamworth and third placegetter Lucky Shadow won at Taree earlier in the week.

"The Bopper is a nice horse going the right way, but will need to be right on his game tomorrow.

"He has drawn awkwardly and doesn't step cleanly, so is likely to be giving away a bit of a start.

"Hopefully he can round them up as he did at Tamworth."

Whilst The Bopper is at cramped odds, such isn't the case with his Noel Leckie Country Cup (1400m) representative Chalmers (Clenton), and Lees considers him an excellent value chance.

"Chalmers should just about have won the Provincial Championships Final at Randwick last year (when third to Bobbing and Spring Charlie), and it was good to see him get back into winning form at Port Macquarie last start.

"I realise he has a big weight (62kg) to carry, but expect him to run really well."

Darleb (Clenton) and Wild Fortune (Gibbons) represent the stable in the Class 2 Handicap (1300m), and Lees regards the form as the pick of his pair.

"He has been lightly raced and was good in winning his last start at Wyong," he said.

First starter Daltoro (Clenton) and Married To The Mob (Gibbons) are the stable's runners in the opening event, the Maiden Handicap (1000m).

Daltoro, a Toronado three-year-old who won a Gosford trial over 1000m on May 5, will race in a nose roll, whilst Married To The Mob, a Foxwedge three-year-old, returns to the track as a gelding.

"Both are each-way chances in what looks a pretty strong Maiden," Lees said.