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Kris Lees has made a “less invasive” gear change on Luncies for his tilt at tomorrow’s $500,000 St Leger Stakes (2600m) at Royal Randwick.

But whilst he doesn't consider the switch from a tongue tie to a tongue control bit is an issue, the eventual state of the track most certainly is.

Randwick was downgraded this morning to a "Heavy 8", but is expected to return to the "Soft" range tomorrow.

"I don't want it too wet for Luncies as I'm sure he will relish the 2600m," Lees said this morning.

"He hasn't gone backwards since The Metropolitan a fortnight ago when he was held up for clear running at a vital stage in the straight and should have finished closer."

Luncies  finished eighth to Montefilia (contesting tomorrow's $5m Caulfield Cup) in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 2, but was beaten only three lengths.

Hugh Bowman partners the five-year-old import for the first time in the St Leger, one of the oldest races on the Australian calendar.

First run in 1841 and restricted to three-year-olds, the St Leger was last run under those conditions in 2001, then reappeared in 2017 for older horses as well as an important part of the expanded The Everest carnival.

Lees decided to substitute a tongue tie for a tongue control bit on Luncies as he strives to get the grey back into the winning list.

"The tongue control bit is less evasive, and he works in it all the time at Broadmeadow, so it's not an issue," he explained.

Whilst Lees doesn't want it too wet for Luncies, this week's rain has boosted the chances of Enchanted Heart (Jason Collett) in the $500,000 Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m).

"Enchanted Heart probably looked a bit outgraded beforehand, but she will love the wet ground," he said.

"She has won on both soft and heavy tracks, and has come on nicely since her first-up close fifth over 1000m at Warwick Farm on October 4."

Lees' other Randwick runner is Ventura Ocean (Bowman) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).

"I accepted with him at Eagle Farm also, but his soft draw at Randwick was the deciding factor in staying here," he said.

"He has taken improvement from two recent runs, and can run well if he handles the ground.

"So far he is unproven in soft conditions and is yet to race on a heavy track."

. Lees has two representatives at his home track meeting at Newcastle tomorrow.

He runs Paradise Island  (Dylan Gibbons) in the Maiden Plate (900m), and Berutti (Blake Spriggs) in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m).

Paradise Island  is a three-year-old filly by Holler who was narrowly beaten at her only start in a similar race at Newcastle in June on soft ground.

"She has trialled well and can run well from an inside draw," Lees said.

Berutti will race in a tongue tie in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m).

The five-year-old won a 1350m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Newcastle in November last year, but hasn't been successful in nine subsequent starts, although he has been placed on four occasions.

Berutti ran seventh to Vienna Rain in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) at Newcastle on October 2 at his latest assignment.

"He hasn't missed a place in six runs on soft ground and has the inside barrier tomorrow, but isn't the easiest horse to trust," Lees said.

Newcastle this morning was rated a "Soft 6" following 88mm of rain (13mm in the last 24 hours) in the past week.