Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist will kick off his assault on the spring carnival when he resumes in the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick next month.

Trainer Kris Lees gave the six-year-old an exhibition gallop at Newcastle on Tuesday, in which he was never fully tested.

2014 Cup-winner Protectionist struggled with severe bone bruising in the autumn, but Lees said he appeared to have recovered from the injuries that plagued his first campaign for an Australian trainer.

"Physically he seems fine," Lees told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

"After every gallop we're very cautious."

He said Protectionist appears to be a happier horse than he was in the autumn.

The next outing for the imported German star will be in a trial at Newcastle on Monday.

Lees said the last 600m of the exhibition gallop was run in just over 38 seconds.

"We just wanted to bring him for a day out," Lees said.

"He's only had one trial so we just wanted to get him in a bit of a raceday environment."