Protectionist; Doukhan; First Seal; Rocky King; Sacred Star

• MELBOURNE Cup winner Protectionist is close to returning to trainer Kris Lees’ Newcastle stable to begin his spring preparation.

Protectionist hasn’t raced since pulling up sore when unplaced in the Sydney Cup behind Grand Marshall at Randwick in April.

Lees inspected the former German stayer last weekend at his Hunter Valley property where has been in pre-training.

“This is his third week on the water-walker and he looks well,’’ Lees said.

* DOUKHAN, the latest imported stayer to win for Lees, could target next month’s $150,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) to help him qualify for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in the spring.

Doukhan showed he was destined to win better races when he overcame a luckless run to score a strong win over 2400m at Rosehill on Monday.

“He has a bit to learn but he’s a progressive horse and we will probably keep him going through the winter,” Lees said.

Doukhan is owned by Australian Bloodstock, who also race Protectionist and Slow Pace, another imported stayer who could also go to the Grafton Cup after his last start second over 1800m at Rosehill.

• QUEENSLAND speedster Rocky King is set for another crack at Grafton’s $150,000 Ramornie Handicap after his easy win at the Sunshine Coast last Monday.

Rocky King ran a huge race in last year’s Ramornie when he showed his brilliant speed to finish second, leading until he was run down Big Money in the rich sprint over 1200m.

Rocky King's easy win over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast has his trainer Tom Bourke eager to return to Grafton.

"We knew he was back near his best when he finished second in the Lightning at his previous start," Bourke said.

“He will be hard to beat in the Ramornie this time.”

• FLIGHT Stakes winner First Seal has returned to training with John Thompson at Randwick following a spell.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock is reported to have thrived during her spell at Think Big Stud.

Thompson is planning to restrict the rising four-year-old to races up to 1600m in the spring after she was tested in longer races during the autumn.

• DUAL G1 winner Sacred Star is returning to New Zealand without another start at the Queensland carnival after finishing sixth in last Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben.

Trainer Tony Pike has ruled out a return to Australia in the spring for Sacred Star as he plans to target the big summer sprints in New Zealand with the gelding.