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Mugatoo is now outright favorite for the $3m Doncaster Mile – but no decision has yet been made whether he will contest the race.
The $5m All-Star Mile hero today was promoted to the top of betting at $7 for the $3m Group 1 feature at Royal Randwick on April 3 on the opening day of The Championships.
This followed the announcement that earlier favorite Russian Camelot, whom he beat in a thrilling contest at Moonee Valley, would not race again as a result of a tendon injury and was heading off to stud next season.
The Australian Bloodstock-raced Mugatoo is also $7 third favorite – behind Addeybb ($3.50) and Verry Elleegant ($5) – for the $4m Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick a week after the Doncaster.
Mugatoo returned home to Newcastle on Tuesday morning, but connections are yet to decide whether he will run in the Doncaster Mile or Queen Elizabeth, or both races.
"It will come down to what we feel Mugatoo reacts best to," Lees said this afternoon.
"All three options are on the table."
Mugatoo has 55.5kg for the Doncaster, and could not be penalised for his All-Star Mile victory as it was run under special conditions at standard weight-for-age.
. Lees accepted with four horses (My Swashbuckler, Azarmin, Sequana and Elegant Grace) for Saturday's fourth Provincial Championships Qualifier (1400m), which has been transferred from Kembla Grange to Goulburn because of the wet weather.
Whilst Goulburn this afternoon was rated a "Heavy 9", Lees is keen to run the foursome if the meetings goes ahead.
Alysha Collett will ride My Swashbuckler , Jay Ford is on Azarmin , Andrew Gibbons is booked for Sequana and Jeff Penza goes on to Elegant Grace.
Lees has made a gear change on Elegant Grace, removing blinkers.
"She raced through the bridle at her last run on the Kensington track, so we'll take them off on Saturday," he explained.
"Two of our horses have drawn inside and the other pair wider on the track, and without knowing how the track will play, it's impossible to make a prediction."
Lees also has Sammy (Gibbons) in the Class 1 Handicap (1300m), and says he should run well even though he hasn't competed on a heavy surface.
"He was good when a first-up second at Canterbury late last month, and has been placed twice on soft ground," he said.
Kedah (Benchmark 80 Handicap, 1200m) and Ventura Ocean (Class 6 Plate, 1400m) represent the stable at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Lees' Queensland jockey Andrew Mallyon will ride the stablemates.
"Kedah was in great form last preparation and is resuming," Lees said. "She may need the run, but has won first-up previously and so is capable of performing well fresh.
"Ventura Ocean hasn't raced since winning at Eagle Farm on February 20 (beating subsequent winner Wren's Day) at his first Australian run for us.
"It's a month between runs, but he has remained at our Gold Coast base and is in good order."
