LEES' POSITIVE IN TAVI TIME'S CUP "CAR PARK" DRAW
- John Curtis
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
The leading Newcastle trainer obviously was disappointed when he learnt his million dollar earner would jump from the extreme outside (16) in a capacity Group 3 line-up, which carries Big Dance eligibility status.
“That’s going to make it harder of course, but Tavi Time ($15 with Tab.com.au) doesn’t have good gate speed,” Lees said this morning.
“Hopefully Dylan (Gibbons) can get some cover on him, and produce him at the right time.
“Tavi Time is in great order, and a ‘Good 4’ track tomorrow is definitely in his favour.
“He has trained on nicely since his excellent first-up performance at Royal Randwick a fortnight ago.”
Tavi Time, ridden by stable apprentice Will Stanley, came from well back when seventh (beaten just over two lengths) to Captain Furai in a Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) on April 18.
He carried 59.5kg then after the allowance, comes down 1.5kg and meets Captain Furai ($5), also drawn awkwardly, 1kg better.
Tavi Time had 55.5kg 12 months ago when fifth to accomplished wet tracker Punch Lane in the Cup, and has since won both the Scone Cup (1600m) and Summer Cup (2000m).
All going well, the 10-times winner will back up in a fortnight chasing a second Listed Scone Cup.
Lees has four acceptors for Hawkesbury’s stand-alone meeting, but his runners are likely to be halved.
Brave Call (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1800m) and Infancy (Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown, 1300m) are both unlikely to start.
“Brave Call has had the one run back and is looking for further, and I will probably trial him instead,” Lees said.
“Infancy is in the Inglis Chairman’s Sale next Thursday, and it’s probably best not to run her again before that.”
Along with Tavi Time, Lees kicks off a new campaign with another million dollar earner and 10-times winner Brudenell (Tyler Schller) in the Listed Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush (1100m).
“As he is getting older (now a six-year-old) Brudenell is taking a bit longer to come to hand,” Lees said.
“He trialled well at Gosford on April 13, but will likely take improvement from this run.”
. Lees has three runners at his home track’s provincial meeting tomorrow, and considers Gold Cup the pick.
Both Gold Cup (Jay Ford) and Powerful Annie (Andrew Gibbons) line up in the Maiden Plate (1900m), and Classic Deel (Will Stanley) resumes in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m).
“Gold Cup is a lightly-raced Super Seth filly, and has taken nice improvement from her first-up third over 1600m at Gosford early last month,” Lees said.
“Blinkers go on and the 1900m looks to suit, and she has drawn nicely.”
. RacingNSW stewards have given Newcastle three-year-old Buffalo’s connections permission for Nash Rawiller to declare 1kg over in the Group 3 Elite Sand & Soil Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).
The Written By three-year-old was an outstanding fourth in Lord Of Biscay’s $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 11 after qualifying by winning a home track heat on February 28.
Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan has withdrawn a resuming Tambeloa from the Guineas to instead tackle the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m), where apprentice Anna Roper’s 2kg claim will lessen his allotted 60.5kg topweight.
