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Kris Lees says the signs are good for Gem Song to give him a hat-trick of Newcastle Newmarket victories tomorrow.

The well-performed now five-year-old will be having only his second start back on the comeback trail when he lines up in the 1400m Group 3 feature.

Lees won the 2019 Newmarket with Princess Posh ($14) and last year with $3.40 favorite Special Reward – both ridden by Brenton Avdulla – and Nash Rawiller partners Gem Song this year.

Rawiller was aboard when Gem Song  not only returned from a lengthy break – he sustained a suspensory injury in the $7.5m Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens in November, 2019 – but also as a gelding when an eye-catching fourth to the talented Masked Crusader in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 13.

"That was an excellent return considering his long layoff," Lees said this afternoon.

"Sometimes horses can race a bit flat second-up after such a long break, but Gem Song has shown no signs at all that his first-up run has affected him.

"He has had nearly three weeks since the Southern Cross, and has trained on strongly.

"The Newmarket fits in nicely second-up, and it's definitely a race he can win."

Lees pointed out Special Reward won last year's Southern Cross at his second run after a freshen prior to winning Newcastle's autumn sprint.

Like both Princess Posh  and Special Reward, Gem Song now races in the Australian Bloodstock colours.

Importantly, with the rail out 8m from the 1000m to 400m and 7m the remainder, Gem Song has drawn well enough at five in the 12-horse field.

Lees' only other Newmarket Day runner is I Say Hello (James McDonald) in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) against her own sex.

The Iffraaj three-year-old, who races in the Coolmore colours, hasn't raced since beating recent Sydney winner Wheelhouse in a 2YO Maiden Plate (1200m) at Newcastle nearly 12 months ago.

"I Say Hello had a skin issue on a hind leg, and we've had to be patient with her," Lees said.

"She has taken improvement from one trial back, and is ready to run well first-up."

. Lees has five acceptors for Saturday's second heat of the Provincial Championships (1400m) at Hawkesbury, but is yet to decide if all will run.

"Sequana and Frozen In Time will definitely start, and both should run well," he said.

"Sequana is a lightly-raced progressive filly who won first-up at Scone, whilst Frozen In Time has been racing well in town and has drawn the rails barrier."

Lees withdrew Frozen In Time from last week's opening heat on his home track when she drew poorly. He subsequently qualified second and third placegetters Cristal Breeze and Animate.

In an open race, Sequana is $6.50 second favorite behind Gemmahra ($6), with Frozen In Time at $10.

Lees considers import Sacramento Joe has a great chance of winning his first race in Australia in the Maiden Plate (2000m).

Sacramento Joe, at his second start since joining Lees' team, finished strongly when a close second to Librarian in a Maiden Plate (1870m) at Newcastle on February 20 on heavy ground.

"He looks well placed stepping up to 2000m, and should be hard to beat," Lees said.

Andrew Gibbons, who rides both Sequana and Sacramento Joe, also partners the stable's other Hawkesbury representative Sian in the Class 1 Handicap (1300m).

"Sian won his maiden over the same distance at Hawkesbury last October before spelling," Lees said.

"Whilst he goes up in class, he has trialled up well and is certainly not the roughest."