Newcastle’s Kris Lees is confident this afternoon’s 2018 Doomben 10,000 will serve as the perfect lead-up to the Kingsford-Smith Cup, which he has tipped as the right race for his three-time Group 1 winner Le Romain.

The field for the weight-for-age Group 1 $700,000 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) is down to 13 after the withdrawal of the Darren Weir-trained Lucky Hussler (1).

Le Romain comes in from barrier 13 to 12 with the Hard Spun five-year-old, a winner of just shy of $2.5 million in career prize money, to be ridden by Glyn Schofield who saluted on Boban back in 2015.

Schofield last rode Le Romain on April 7 at Randwick during ‘The Championships’ when fourth to Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

Ahead of him in that sprint classic were also Redzel (2^nd) and In Her Time (3^rd), the two horses heading Doomben 10,000 betting on Saturday for the rematch.

Team Snowden’s defending Doomben 10,000 champion Redzel sits top of the odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $2.45 to go back-to-back.

Benjamin Smith’s class mare In Her Time is the next best in Doomben 10,000 betting at $3.70, while punters can find Le Romain further down the markets at a double-figure quote of $15 to turn the tables.

Le Romain was last seen running on April 21 in Sydney beaten home again by Gerald Ryan’s ace three-year-old Trapeze Artist when only a neck back second in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m).

Jason Collett replaced the injured Schofield that day, but the latter is back for the Doomben 10,000 where Le Romain drops back to 1200m, his first look at the Doomben track and looks suited to the current Soft rating.

“If it’s wet it’s better, but if it’s dry, no worries. He ran really well in his last two starts on dry ground,” Schofield told AAP on Friday.

Schofield is also unconcerned by the wide barrier eight of 13 draw for Le Romain in the Doomben 10,000.

“I’m glad to be back on him. He’s in great form,” the hoop said.

“He’s drawn his customary wide barrier, which isn’t a problem. He rolls forward so he’ll be prominent in the run.”

It has been a while between wins for Le Romain whose last turf triumph was the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) run in the mud at Randwick back in March of 2017.

Despite the horse’s proven ability up to a mile, Lees remains confident the Doomben 10,000 sprint will suit his gelding with Le Romain also boasting a strong 1200m record (8:2-4-1).

The major Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival target for the galloper however remains the Group 1 $700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) back at Doomben over more metres on May 26.

“That’s the race that’ll suit him the most,” Lees said.

All-in Kingsford-Smith Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is firmly led by the Doomben 10,000 favourite Redzel ($2.50) followed by In Her Time and Le Romain at $5.

To get behind Le Romain to place in the Doomben 10,000 results this afternoon and to access the best pre-field 2018 Kingsford Smith Cup odds online head to Ladbrokes.com.au now.