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Trainer Kris Lees has taken a hit with his talented three-year-old Gem Song out of Saturday’s Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill and stablemates The Tenor and Serene Miss doubtful runners at the meeting.

Gem Song was ruled out of the Hobartville Stakes on veterinary advice as a result of a skin infection.

The scratching of the last start Warwick Farm winner has robbed the Hobartville Stakes of a clash with boom three-year-old The Autumn Sun.

Lees remains hopeful of Gem Song recovering in time to contest the $1 million Randwick Guineas on March 9.

“It’s not serious and I might run him at Randwick on Saturday week as his lead-up to the Guineas,” Lees said.

Lees is also hesitant about starting The Tenor and Serene Miss at Rosehill due to wide barrier draws and the prospect of a soft track.

Lees still has a strong representation at Rosehill with four acceptors for the Listed Parramatta Cup led by the topweight Sense Of Occasion.

Now an eight-year-old Sense Of Occasion (Brenton Avdulla) won the 2017 Doomben Cup on heavy ground but has been unplaced at six subsequent starts.

He resumes on Saturday with Lees also represented by Singing (Glyn Schofield) and recent acquisitions Big Duke (Avdulla) and Red Cardinal (Jason Collett).

“I’ve taken blinkers off Sense Of Occasion and he will have the cut out of the ground to suit,” Lees said. “His performance on Saturday will tell us where we are at with him.

“Singing knocked up at his first run back in 10 months in the Gosford Cup last month, and can definitely improve on Saturday.”

“Big Duke and Red Cardinal have settled in well since arriving and are being prepared for the Sydney Cup at Randwick on April 13.

Lees has three representatives at Canterbury on Friday night – Great Danger (James McDonald), Aliferous (Kerrin McEvoy) and recent Canterbury winner Clevanicc (Robbie Dolan).

Great Danger is coming to town after winning two of his three starts in the country while Aliferous is fitter for two runs since resuming and has blinkers applied.

Clevanicc appreciated both the wet ground and a fast pace when he won at Canterbury a fortnight ago.

Lees is sending top Newcastle jockey Andrew Gibbons to Brisbane on Saturday to partner his Eagle Farm runners Raay Of Dreams, Pickelhaube, Hallelujah Boy and Kool Vinnie.