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Kris Lees will decide later today whether Luncies goes to Royal Randwick on Saturday or heads south tonight to run at Flemington.
Lees accepted with the grey in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over the same distance at Flemington.
Both carry $1m purses, but the Hill is run under weight-for-age conditions and the Turnbull, which he won with the classy mare Lucia Valentina eight years ago, at set weights plus penalties.
Tim Clark has been booked for Luncies at Randwick, and Harry Coffey is on standby to partner him if he is floated to Melbourne overnight to line up at Flemington.
Randwick is currently rated a "Soft 7", and Flemington a "Soft 5".
"I'm just waiting to see what the weather does today before making a final decision later," Lees said this morning.
"Luncies has trained on nicely since his first-up close second in the Cameron Handicap (1500m) here a fortnight ago, and can run well whichever race he starts in."
Lees has opted for a gear change on the gelding, removing blinkers and replacing them with visors.
"Changing the blinkers for visors will enable him to see better," he said.
Luncies narrowly failed to earn exemption from ballot for the $8m Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 1 when second to Point Nepean in the Listed Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at that track in May.
The six-year-old remained in both the Melbourne Cup and $5m Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 15 when second acceptances were taken recently, but is currently well down the ballot order for both features.
Irrespective of whether Luncies runs in Sydney on Saturday, Lees has a number of good chances at Randwick's Epsom Handicap meeting.
He will be represented by former New Zealander Wolverine (Jason Collett) in the $750,000 Group Flight Stakes (1600m) for three-year-old fillies, along with Hosier (1600m Benchmark 88 Handicap), Flag Of Honour (1600m Listed Dulcify Stakes), and Rustic Steel and Kinloch (1200m Benchmark 94 Handicap).
Stable apprentice Dylan Gibbons claims his city 2kg allowance on Hosier and Rustic Steel, Hugh Bowman partners Flag Of Honour and Kerrin McEvoy has the Kinloch mount.
Lees is understandably looking forward to saddling Wolverine for the Flight, which he won in 2008 with the outstanding Samantha Miss.
"Her strong closing third in the 1400m Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick a fortnight ago suggests she is ready for the mile," Lees said.
"Wolverine is in great order, and should get a good run from the inside barrier.
"Flag Of Honour also is ready for the 1600m after his fourth in the 1400m Ming Dynasty at Rosehill Gardens three weeks ago.
"He is a nice horse and I expect him to be hard to beat."
Flag Of Honour is heading toward the $2m Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 22, and may back up on Saturday week in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) there as his final lead-up.
Both Coffs Harbour Cup winner Hosier and Scone Cup winner Rustic Steel are heading to the inaugural $2m The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 1.
"Saturday's race will be Hosier's last before The Big Dance," Lees said.
"Rustic Steel had a stone bruise and couldn't run in the Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last Saturday, but is fine now.
"The 1200m is probably going to be a bit short for him this weekend, and he will run in the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) at Randwick in a fortnight as his final lead-up to The Big Dance.
"Kinloch was okay first-up and has taken improvement from that race, but may also be looking for a bit further now."
Whilst Hosier and Rustic Steel are Lees' main seeds for The Big Dance, he also hopes to get last Tuesday's Lismore Cup winner Spanish Point and Kedah, who won the Ballina Cup in January, into the race.
If they miss out, the $500,000 Little Dance (1600m) on the same day shapes as a suitable alternative.
