The sudden death of promising import Salon Soldier from a rare complication has cast a sombre mood over the Kris Lees stable.

A Flemington winner during Melbourne Cup week, the German import had resumed light work with Lees at Newcastle but "appeared a little bit off" on Tuesday night.

Subsequent vet tests revealed a rupture in the horse's digestive system which had become toxic and could not be treated.

Salon Soldier was raced by the Australian Bloodstock syndicate which also owns the Lees-trained Uate, one of the contenders for the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1150m) at the Randwick-Kensington meeting on Saturday.

Lees is hoping the five-year-old can deliver some good news for connections this week.

"I hope so. He is racing his way back into fitness and while he will improve on whatever he does on Saturday I'm pleased with how he's going," Lees said.

Group One placed as a juvenile, Uate resumed from a lengthy spell with a midfield finish in the Starlight Stakes won by Zaratone who will again be among his Saturday rivals.

A full field of 12 plus two emergencies was paid up for the sprint which has been shortened by 50 metres due to the switch of the meeting from the course proper to the Kensington track.