Doncaster Mile hopeful Sound Proposition has boosted a strong book of rides for Melbourne champion Damien Oliver at Rosehill on Saturday.

Hugh Bowman originally was booked to ride the former Kiwi in the G3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m), but due to a medical issue will not be in action again until April 11.

Oliver is coming to Sydney for a number of engagements including Team Hayes’ pair Ventura Storm (Tancred Stakes) and Rimraam (Vinery Stud Stakes) in the two G1 features.

Trainer Kris Lees is confident Sound Proposition the gelding is back in form after a disappointing first-up ninth to Lanciato in the G3 Newmarket (1400m) on March 9 .

“He pulled up with cardiac arrhythmia, so you have to overlook that performance,” Lees said. “I trialled him at Scone nine days after the Newmarket and he was fine and has worked well since.”

The Prelude winner automatically gains inclusion in the field for Saturday week’s $3 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick but Lees is holding off making a commitment.

“I want to see how he pulls up after Saturday before making a decision,” Lees said.

Articus (Jason Collett) makes his debut for the Lees stable in the G3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m).

The import was transferred to Lees from Darren Weir after finishing fifth over 2000m at Caulfield in January. He had finished second to Pretty Pink in a similar race over the same distance at Flemington on January 13.

“Articus has settled in well, and worked well enough and is ready to go back to the races,” Lees said.

Kris Lees has sent barrier rogue Dal Cielo to Queensland to hopefully get him back into winning form at Doomben on Saturday.

Barred after refusing to jump when resuming at Warwick Farm on February 10 after an enforced injury layoff, the former New Zealander has subsequently been cleared to line up in at Doomben with Damian Browne aboard.

Dal Cielo and stablemate Pah Terie (Jeff Lloyd), who resumes at the same meeting, were floated to Queensland and arrived safely on Thursday.

Lees has done everything possible to get Dal Cielo – a talented sprinter when on his best behaviour – in the right mood to race again.

“I sent him to a rehab school at Scone where he did a bit of showjumping,” Lees explained. “He’s also had some remedial work at the barrier.

“I’ve given him two trials since the Warwick Farm episode, and he’s been fine.

“Provided he jumps cleanly on Saturday there’s no doubt he’ll be hard to beat. His previous form is better than his rivals, and he excels around the 1000m.”

Lees will race Dal Cielo minus a tongue tie.

“I took it off him in his trials, and there was no problem,” he said.

Dal Cielo ran fourth in a 900m Scone trial on March 8, then won an 800m trial on the Beaumont track six days later.

Stablemate Pah Terie also has a change of gear for his Doomben resumption. He will race in blinkers at his first start since mid-November.

“He has trialled in blinkers, and reacted well to them,” Lees said.

At his only start for Lees the three-year-old finished seventh to recent Hawkesbury Provincial Championships Qualifier winner Uptown Lad at Newcastle on November 19.