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Kris Lees will have nearly half the field in Saturday’s final Provincial Championships Qualifier at Kembla Grange, seeking to boost his numbers for the $500,000 Final.

The leading Newcastle trainer will line up seven of the 16 starters in the 1400m heat, which originally was to have been run a fortnight ago.

The Lees' seven includes dual State acceptor Safado (Christian Reith), who has been withdrawn from an Eagle Farm engagement to join stablemates Darleb (Mitchell Bell), Azarmin (Louise Day), Game Of Thorns (Alysha Collett), Regimental Band (Jeff Penza), Siesta Key (Jean Van Overmeire) and Elegant Grace (Andrew Gibbons).

"Safado is staying home to try to qualify for the Final," Lees said. "The prizemoney ($150,000) is too good to pass up.

"He ran his best race for some time when runner-up on the Kensington track a fortnight ago.

"It's the last of the qualifiers, so all seven will run.

"I could make a case for all of them, but it's a very open race and luck in running will play an important part in the outcome."

Lees has made gear changes on two of his representatives. Blinkers go back on Darleb, but winkers and a tongue tie come off, and blinkers come off Elegant Grace, whom her trainer said "raced through the bridle last time" when fifth to Oaks fancy Harmony Rose on the Kensington track on February 17, having won there a fortnight earlier.

Lees has already qualified four horses – Cristal Breeze, Animate, Zeftabrook and Loch Lomond – for the 1400m Final at Royal Randwick on April 17 (Day 2 of The Championships).

Cristal Breeze and Animate were placed in the opening heat at Newcastle on February 27, and had their final lead-ups when both were placed again yesterday at Warwick Farm.

Zeftabrook and Loch Lomond chased home Prince Aurelius in the Wyong heat which was run over 1200m at Gosford last Saturday.

Since RacingNSW launched the Provincial Championships in 2015, Lees has landed two finals (with Danish Twist in 2016 and Serene Miss in 2018), and also had three placegetters (Electric Power in 2015, Powerline the following year and Chalmers in 2019).

. Safado and Loolwah have both been withdrawn from the Class 3 Plate (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but Top Prospect (Benchmark 90 Handicap, 1400m) and Iconic Star (Class 6 Handicap, 1000m) will represent the stable at the meeting.

Apprentice Adin Thompson's 2kg claim is being utilised on the pair.

"Top Prospect will take further improvement from Saturday's race, but ran well when runner-up on resumption at the Gold Coast and looks set for a good campaign," Lees said.

"Iconic Star has drawn the outside in a field of 11, but is a speedy mare and has had two nice trials to prepare her for a return."

. Lees has two acceptors at Monday's Hawkesbury meeting, but has announced Loolwah as a non-runner in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m), having drawn poorly.

Glowing Red (Brenton Avdulla) will resume in the Class 1 Handicap (1100m), and is expected to run well from an inside draw.