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By Greg Prichard

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees believes Protagonist and Luncies will both run well for him in the Petaluma Hill Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, but he favours Protagonist as the horse more likely to succeed out of that pair and bookmakers agree with him.

Protagonist is the $7 third favourite for the race with TAB Fixed Odds, behind the Chris Waller-trained Montefilia ($3.60) and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott runner Hoo Ya Mal ($7). Luncies is a $26 chance.

There is a strong Newcastle presence in the $2 million event over 1900 metres, with trainers Paul Perry (Sky Lab, $19) and Mark Minervini (Hosier, $15) also having runners engaged.

Trainer Kris Lees (pic: Steve Hart).

Seven-year-old gelding Protagonist has been very competitive in his two runs back from a spell, with a second in the Rowley Mile, a Listed race over 1600 metres at Hawkesbury on August 17, and a fourth in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes over 2000 metres at Randwick on September 16.

Protagonist also ran in a barrier trial before each of those starts, so the fitness is there to put him in a position where he’s ready to chase a win at his third start this campaign.

Luncies has had one run back from a spell for a ninth in the Cameron Handicap over 1500 metres at Newcastle on September 15. The extra 400 metres will see the seven-year-old gelding start getting up to what is a much more suitable distance for him.

“Both will run well, not a lot between them really,” Lees said.

“But I probably favour Protagonist because it’s his third run in. Both have good draws, so they each get their chance. They should race forward of midfield.

“Protagonist’s run in the Kingston Town was good and this is around his best distance. He’s just got to run up to that sort of form to be right in the finish here.”

Perry said Sky Lab, which has had three runs back from a spell and was a last-start fifth in the Kingston Town, was doing well in his work but was disadvantaged by the weight-for-age conditions of the race.

“If it was a handicap some of those other horses would be giving him five kilos, but he needs to have a run so he’s got to go around,” he said.

“He’s well in himself and there are plenty of races up the road that will be more suitable to him, so we’ll keep him ticking over.

"He’ll still run a good race, I reckon, but I just don’t think he’s suited by the weight-for-age scale. Whatever happens, it’ll set him up well for later on in this campaign.”

Lees also has Willinga Beast, a $23 chance in the Group 3 $250,000 The Nivison over 1200 metres for the mares.

“Good run first-up and has come on nicely with a trial since,” he said.

“It’s a strong race, but she’ll be competitive with the right run.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting