Trainer Kris Lees is preparing both stayers for his major clients Australian Bloodstock with the $750,000 ATC Metropolitan at Randwick on October 5 an early target for both horses.
The $160,000 Wyong Cup (2100m) and the $200,000 Newcastle Cup (2300m) have been popular lead-up races to the Metropolitan (2400m) for many years with Lees having had numerous starters in both events including a win in the 2016 Wyong Cup with Slow Pace.
Lees gave the former Darren Weir-trained Sixties Groove a short Queensland spell after he won the G2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.
"We gave Sixties Groove three weeks off in Queensland and he's back in the stables at Newcastle," Lees said.
"I would suggest he'll go Newcastle Cup into the Metropolitan.
"The horses coming out of Brisbane have plenty of residual fitness so he may just have one run into the Newcastle Cup.''
Lees expects imported German mare Attention Run to make her mark in better company after her winning Australian debut over 1600m at Randwick on July 6 when having her first start for almost 12 months.
Attention Run, who has had only eight starts in Europe for two wins over distances up to 2200m, may go to Coffs Harbour on Thursday for the $50,000 Ken Howard Cup over 2000m.
"It took a while for her to settle in Australia, she's been a work in progress getting acclimatised," Lees said.
"She looks a stayer to me and I think we'll space her runs.
"She's really come on nicely and may go to the Wyong Cup or something softer before that race."
Attention Run had last raced in Germany in August. She has two wins and a place from eight career starts overseas having previously competed between 1700 and 2200 metres.
Lees has another Australian Bloodstock import Our Candidate in the mix for the Wyong and Newcastle Cups after his impressive win over 2400m at Rosehill on Saturday.
Our Candidate won twice in England and opened his Australian account over 2100m at Wyong last month before finishing second over 2400m at Randwick.
Lees said his Adrian Knox Stakes winner Aliferous will not be ready for the Wyong and Newcastle Cups but is also being prepared for staying races in the spring after her luckless Brisbane carnival efforts in the Doomben Roses, Queensland Oaks and Queensland Derby.
"She's on a path to kick off in Sydney. There's plenty of races for her and I'm hoping she ends up a better than average mare," Lees said.
