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Trainer Kris Lees will not confirm a Coolmore Classic start for his quality mare Lucia Valentina at Rosehill on Saturday until after she gallops on the Beaumont track at Newcastle on Tuesday morning.

Lees has James McDonald booked to ride the mare after realising he was free for a Coolmore Classic ride after Godolphin confirmed that Corey Brown will come from Singapore to ride the filly Ghisoni.

Brown will partner the unbeaten Ghisoni as McDonald is to heavy for the mount on the lightly-raced three-year-old.

Lees has given Lucia Valentina two barrier trials since her return from Hong Kong where she ran a splendid fifth in record-breaking time to Japanese dasher A Shin Hakari in the Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on December 13.

Lucia Valentina impressed in running down stablemate Goldstream in a special 1000m trial after the last race on the Beaumont track at Broadmeadow last Tuesday.

“She is coming along nicely. All the indications are that the trip to Hong Kong and back hasn’t taken anything out of her,” Lees said.

“Provided she pleases me when she gallops on Tuesday morning, she will run in the Coolmore Classic.”

Lees said the alternative is to wait another week for the mare to resume in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill.

The $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) will be run over the same distance as the Coolmore Classic but under weight-for-age conditions.

At this stage the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 9 remains Lucia Valentina’s first choice autumn target but Lees said the $1 million Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) against her own sex on the same program is also an option.