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Kris Lees has an eye on his hometown $1m feature with the promising young sprinter Kinloch.

But he stresses the four-year-old's performance in tomorrow's Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m) at Royal Randwick almost certainly will determine plans for The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle on November 13.

"Realistically, Kinloch  probably needs to win tomorrow to get into The Hunter because of his current benchmark rating (71)," Lees said this morning.

"He is stepping up in class, but the 1200m will suit him better second-up and he has a soft draw with the minimum weight (52kg).

"Kinloch has come on nicely since his good first-up run, and I'll be disappointed if he doesn't run well."

A son of I Am Invincible, Kinloch fetched $300,000 as a yearling in New Zealand and has won three of his only eight starts.

At his first start since a solid midweek Kensington 1300m victory on July 21, he ran third to Leo in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m) at Randwick on October 9.

Though never a winning possibility, Kinloch was doing his best work at the end and drops 4.5kg for the rise in class tomorrow.

Lees finished second with Tactical Advantage (to Savatiano) in the inaugural running of The Hunter in 2019, and last year again finished second (with Special Reward behind Sweet Deal) and also had fourth and fifth placegetters Tactical Advantage and Evalina .

Alysha Collett has the mount on Kinloch, who may be Lees' sole representative at The Invitation meeting tomorrow.

He has delayed a decision until the morning about Sammy (Rachel King) lining up in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m).

Lees has two runners at the corresponding Doomben meeting; Frozen In Time (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1050m) and Safado (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1350m).

Andrew Mallyon will ride both horses.

"I withdrew Frozen In Time from an Eagle Farm race last Saturday when she drew the outside barrier, and again she has come up with the outside draw," Lees said.

"But we will start and go back from the jump. She should be strong late."

Lees has withdrawn Darleb (staying at home for Monday's Jungle Juice Cup on the Beaumont track) to rely on Safado in the Benchmark 78.

"Safado has done well since his first-up run at the Port Macquarie Cup meeting and has been placed at three of his four second-up runs," he said.

"He has drawn nicely, and I'm confident he can run well and is over the odds."

. Last Saturday's ATC St Leger Stakes (2600m) runner-up Luncies has concluded his spring campaign, and is spelling.

Next autumn's Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick during The Championships in April is on the agenda for the import.

Meanwhile, Never Talk, who turned in a big performance to come from last and finish third in the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m), has remained in Melbourne for a Flemington carnival assignment.

"It was a huge effort; she ran the best closing sectional time of the day," Lees said.

"Never Talk will contest the Group 3 Sprint (1100m) for mares four-year-old and upwards on Derby day (tomorrow week)."