"TIME" FOR LEES TO WIN HAWKESBURY GOLD CUP

TUESDAY: April 28, 2026: KRIS Lees is yet to win a Hawkesbury Gold Cup, and says there’s no better “time” than Saturday to do it.

The leading Newcastle trainer will rely on dual Summer Cup winner Tavi Time in the $250,000 Group 3 Richmond Club Gold Cup (1600m), and Dylan Gibbons will ride him.

Tavi Time ran fifth to accomplished wet tracker Punch Lane in last year’s Cup, and wasn’t suited by the heavy conditions.

He came out 13 days later and won the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) on a good surface.

With excellent weather forecast for the remainder of the week, a “Good 4” track seems well in order for Saturday’s Gold Cup meeting – and that will suit Tavi Time perfectly.

Both the Hawkesbury Gold Cup and Scone Cup carry Big Dance eligibility, with the gelding’s Scone victory last year earning him a spot in the $3m feature at Royal Randwick in early November – and he ran eighth to Gringotts without a lot of luck in the straight.

Tavi Time carried 55.5kg at Hawkesbury 12 months ago, and rises 2.5kg, but has won both the Scone Cup and Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) for a second year running in between.

Lees was really pleased with his strong finish on resumption into seventh placing behind Captain Furai in a Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on April 18.

He carried 59.5kg then after stable apprentice Will Stanley’s 3kg claim, and now meets Cup favorite Captain Furai 2kg better.

“Tavi Time has trained on well since the Randwick race, and is set to again have a crack at both the Hawkesbury and Scone Cups,” Lees said this afternoon.

“He goes to Hawkesbury in good order, and is proven second-up.”

Million dollar earner Tavi Time has been a wonderful performer for the stable, winning 10 of his 29 starts and also being placed on six occasions.

Lees came closest to taking the Gold Cup home when import Sixties Groove ($21) ran third to dual winner Archedemus in 2019.

Lees plans to accept with both Infancy (59kg) and Imposant (56kg) in Saturday’s $250,000 Pioneer Services Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) for fillies and mares, but awaits the barrier draw before making a final decision on both running.

Jason Collett rides Infancy, whilst Imposant is also nominated for the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1500m), where she has 59kg topweight.

Both mares are in form, with Infancy making a valiant bid to win back to back Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) when a late closing second at Randwick on April 11.

Imposant has now been placed in the last two $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Finals (1400m); the latest when runner-up to her stablemate Lord Of Biscay on April 11.

Lees’ hardy sprinter Brudenell (56.5kg) resumes in the $200,000 Listed Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m); a race the trainer is no stranger to winning.

He was successful with Felines in 2017 and Tactical Advantage three years later.

Much like Tavi Time, Brudenell has been a consistent performer for Lees’ stable and connections.

From 34 starts, he has won 10 and been placed eight times, and also has topped the $1m mark ($1,074,425).

Brudenell, successful twice first-up, has had two recent trials at the Beaumont track and Gosford to prepare him for his return.