Lees waiting for Oliver decision on Lucia

Trainer Kris Lees is hoping Damien Oliver will make an early commitment to ride Lucia Valentina in the Underwood Stakes.

The mare pleased the trainer in a Wyong barrier trial on Tuesday when she worked home late under Andrew Gibbons ahead of her next race in the Group One Underwood (1800m) on September 24 at Caulfield.

“Damien won the Queen Elizabeth on her, and has first refusal,” Lees said.

“But I would like him to make a decision soon rather than later. No doubt he will have a few offers.”

At her first start since winning the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April, Lucia Valentina finished fourth in last month’s Warwick Stakes won by Winx.

Lees stuck to his plan to give Lucia Valentina a barrier trial rather than another race to tune her up for the Underwood which will be her lead-up to the Cox Plate a month later.

The trainer has not yet decided whether Randwick Guineas winner Le Romain will run in the Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 1 or head to Melbourne for the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on Underwood day.