It will be a rare event when the son of a multiple Group 1-winning mare starts at the iconic two-day Birdsville Cup meeting which gets under way on Friday.

Kris Lees's blueblood Sammy can take another step towards convincing racegoers that he will fulfil the promise he displayed early in his career when he contests the Rascals Burgers Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m) at Saturday’s Newcastle race meeting.

Kris Lees accepted with seven of his team for Wednesday’s Metropolitan-class mid-week meeting at Newcastle, however, only three of them are likely to run.

Sammy breaks through at Wyong.