Kris Lees is waiting on an improved track rating before confirming a start for dual acceptor Grande Rumore at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Lees has already decided on the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m), where the mare has 5kg less than the Benchmark 78 Handicap over the same distance – if he runs her.
Rosehill this afternoon was rated a "Heavy 9", and as a result he is keeping a close eye on weather developments over the next 24 hours.
"It will need to get better," Lees said this afternoon in reference to the track rating.
"She is in good order after a brief Melbourne campaign, but the weather will have the final say about her lining up on Saturday.
Lees sent Grande Rumore south trying to avoid heavy tracks and was able to start her twice at Flemington on soft ground against her own sex for a fourth placing and a win.
She ran fourth to Bella Rouge in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) on June 4, then dropped 4.5kg for the rise in grade when successful in a Benchmark 90 Handicap (1420m) a fortnight later.
The former English mare won a heat of the Summer Provincial Series at Newcastle last November before finishing third to then stablemate Darleb in the 1600m Final, also on her home track, in December.
Jason Collett, who has been booked for Grande Rumore on Saturday, has ridden her three times without greeting the judge.
However, he was an unlucky third on her at Hawkesbury's Saturday stand-alone meeting in May last year.
Along with Grande Rumore, Lunakorn (Glyn Schofield) also is not yet a certain runner in the Benchmark 78 (1400m) because of the heavy ground.
But Tawfiq Lass (Collett) will definitely take her place in that race.
"She never looked like losing at Canterbury last Wednesday, and loves the ground," Lees said.
Tawfiq Lass, with Collett aboard, beat five rivals in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m) on a Heavy 10.
Apprentice Tyler Schiller again partners Snowzone in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) as the consistent sprinter attempts a Sydney breakthrough.
Snowzone has won five races at Doomben, but is yet to win in Sydney although he has been placed on three occasions, having been runner-up at Royal Randwick at his last two appearances.
Schiller rode Snowzone for the first time when the gelding chased home Conscript last Saturday in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) on a Heavy 9 surface.
"Snowzone is very genuine and tough and no problem backing him up again on another heavy track," Lees said.
Newcastle debut winner Flag Of Honour (Hugh Bowman) and newcomer Cacofonix (Collett) represent the stable in the 2YO Handicap (1400m) and 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) respectively.
"Flag Of Honour is a promising youngster who has trained on well since beating older horses over 1200m at home a fortnight ago," Lees said.
"He goes straight to town on a Saturday, and obviously it's a good test.
"But he has plenty of upside and I'm sure he will run well.
"Cacofonix is having his first run for our stable after winning two of his four starts in New Zealand.
"He is a nice horse, but has drawn awkwardly and we'll go back on him and give him the chance to finish off."
