Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is hoping to plunder Saturday’s Randwick meeting to boost his spending power at next week’s New Zealand yearling sale at Karaka.

Lees has a strong team heading to Randwick and will be on hand before flying out to attend the annual NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka on Monday and Tuesday.

His Randwick contingent includes a three-pronged attack on the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m with Senta De Noche (Koby Jennings), Felines (Samantha Clenton) and Raido (Hugh Bowman).

Lees says that of his three representatives he has a slight preference for Felines, but “only just”.

Lees has provided a summation of their prospects:

SENTA DE NOCHE: “He is past his best form, but the 1000m suits and he has had three trials to prepare him for this return. The 3kg claim will be handy and his last win was at Randwick (over 1150m on the Kensington track in November, 2014).”;

FELINES: “I withdrew her from a stronger race at Randwick last Saturday to keep her for this. She won first-up over this course and ran well from an outside barrier at her next run over 900m at the Gold Coast.

“Four of her five wins have been at this distance. The four weeks between runs is ideal and the 2kg claim is also important.”

RAIDO: “He has come back well, running second at both starts since resuming. Has plenty of weight (60kg), but Bowman going back on him is obviously a plus and he has drawn nicely.”

Lees will start the promising Le Romain (Glyn Schofield) in the 3YO Quality (1000m) and has drawn the inside alley in a field of seven.

Le Romain has started only three times for a 1200m maiden success on his home track at last September’s Newcastle spring carnival and a second to last week’s brilliant Flemington winner Hellbent in a Benchmark 67 Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 30.

Le Romain has trialled twice since returning to work, winning his latest trial over 1000m at Wyong on January 12.

“He is a nice horse and we have taken our time with him,” Lees said. “The 1000m might be a bit sharp first-up, but I’m expecting him to run well all the same.”

Youngster Twist Tops (Tommy Berry) resumes in the 2YO Plate (1000m) as a lead-up to the $250,000 Inglis Classic (1200m) at the same track on February 6.

The Beneateau filly won a heat of the official Randwick two-year-old trials on September 21 before finishing fourth on debut to Calliope in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) on October 3.

She was rested after failing at Moonee Valley’s Cox Plate meeting three weeks later but pulled up with an irregular heart rhythm and easily won a Wyong barrier trial (854m) on January 12.

“Twist Tops appears to have come back well, and has a soft draw on Saturday,” Lees said. “This race will top her off nicely for a fortnight later.”

Lees has made an important riding switch (James McDonald) on Game Pie in the Benchmark 77 Handicap (2000m), and is prepared to overlook his latest Canterbury defeat.

The import overcame difficulties to score first-up over 1500m at Hawkesbury on December 13, then was cramped between runners at a vital stage when a solidly-supported $3.50 favorite and only ninth over 1550m on January 9.

“Nothing went right for him that day,” Lees said. “He is looking for 2000m now and McDonald’s booking and the big track are definite advantages.”