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Kris Lees has heeded Melbourne ace Craig Williams’ advice to make a gear switch on Aliferous – his sole Rosehill Gardens representative on Saturday.

Blinkers come off and visors go on "back-up girl" Aliferous  as she seeks to go one better than last year in the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m).

Williams partnered the mare at the same track last Saturday when she ran second to Polly Grey in the Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m), and recommended removing the blinkers.

"Craig felt she was waiting for them a bit last week when she got through, so I've reacted to his advice," Lees said this afternoon.

"I nearly didn't replace blinkers, but in the end decided to put visors on."

Backing up in seven days and performing well is nothing new to Aliferous, whom Williams sticks with.

As an autumn three-year-old two years ago, she won the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick before finishing fourth to the champion mare Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) there a week later.

Two months later at the Brisbane winter carnival, Aliferous was a close fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben and backed up the following week against the "boys" when an outstanding third (coming from 15th at the 400m) to Mr Quickie and subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm.

Twelve months ago, the tough mare ran fourth to Missybeel in the Epona before a photo-finish second to Night's Watch a week later in the Neville Sellwood.

"I've followed a similar pattern to last year and hopefully she can go one better on Saturday," Lees said.

"There's no problem about backing her up again, and she is in great order."

Lees' only other Rosehill acceptor is import Luncies, who is fifth emergency for the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m) and very unlikely to gain a start.

In any case, Lees has named him a doubtful starter for his Australian debut even if he does make the field.

. Lees is making sure he has Doncaster Mile favorite Mugatoo "spot on" for the $3m feature at Randwick on Saturday week on the opening day of The Championships.

Hugh Bowman again partnered his recent $5m All-Star Mile winning mount in an exhibition gallop between races at Newcastle on Tuesday, and the gelding will have his final gallop on Tuesday morning.

"It won't be a hard gallop though," Lees said. "I don't want to over-cook him so that he is spot on for the 1600m of the Doncaster."

Lees also runs Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket winner Gem Song (Jason Collett) in the Doncaster, and was pleased with his fourth in last Saturday's wfa George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill. He drops from 59kg to 53kg at Randwick.

"I feel Gem Song is too close to Mugatoo (55.5kg) to beat him home in the Doncaster, but expect him to run well all the same," he said. "I'll be surprised if he doesn't earn a cheque."

Lees intends adopting different riding tactics on Manion Cup disappointment Collide in next Saturday's Group 2 Chairman's Quality (2600m) at Randwick in the hope he can turn around his prospects for the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) a week later.

"We went back from an awkward draw last Saturday in the Manion, but it didn't work," Lees said.

"We'll be more positive on him in the Chairman's.

"Mustajeer will probably go straight to the Cup without another run, and I'm not sure if we press on to the Cup with Raheen House (an unlucky placegetter last year), who is probably coming to the end of his racing days."