KRIS Lees and Hugh Bowman will combine again to hopefully snare a Group 1 with luckless Golden Slipper Stakes fourth Rivellino.
Lees this morning confirmed Bowman, who has been aboard seven of the leading Newcastle trainer’s 17 majors, will return from his Hong Kong base to again partner the classy colt in the $1m Inglis Sires (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday week on the opening day of The Championships.
RacingNSW stewards’ report graphically told the story of how Rivellino forfeited the advantage of his inside draw in last Saturday’s $5m Golden Slipper (1200m, and given all the circumstances, his effort to finish fourth to Marhoona was outstanding.
“Slow to begin and then failed to muster speed despite being ridden along from the barriers,” the report said.
“Approaching the 600m shifted out on to the heels of Wodeton (eventual runner-up). Held up for clear running from the 350m until after passing the 200m.”
“Rivellino hasn’t been the best away in his runs, but I’ve moved on,” Lees said this morning.
“Importantly the colt has done well since the Slipper, and there’s no reason at this stage not to go to the Sires.
“Hugh is keen to come back and ride him again.”
Rivellino and Wodeton currently share favoritism for the Sires at $3.50.
Meanwhile, Lees will trial Lord Of Biscay, one of his current two Provincial-Midway Championships Finalists, at home next Wednesday in preparation for the $1m feature at Randwick on April 12.
He will finalise a PMC Final rider for the Australian Bloodstock-raced import after the trial.
Lord Of Biscay qualified after turning in a big performance after racing wide when narrowly beaten by talented Kembla Grange mare Welcometobarbados in a Newcastle Qualifier (1400m) on March 1.
That was his first start since trouncing his rivals in the Big Dance Eligibility Ballina Cup (1590m) on January 17.
Imposant earned her spot in the Final field by winning the Kembla Grange Qualifier (1400m) last Saturday.
. Lees and his former apprentice now senior jockey Dylan Gibbons combined to win the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens 12 months ago with Kalapour, and will join forces again at this year’s meeting on Saturday.
But not with Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Amokura, who was scheduled to resume in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m).
“She hasn’t raced since last winter, and I’ll hold her back for another couple of weeks,” Lees said.
And the weather will determine whether another Gibbons booking Almania lines up in the Group 2 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m).
“Almania is always competitive in this grade, but I won’t run him if it is wet (rain is forecast for Sydney, especially on Saturday).”
Lees is forgiving Gibbons’ mount Cloudland (Benchmark 88 Handicap, 1400m) for his first-up unplaced run (sixth) in the Benchmark 94 Handicap (1200m) at Kembla Grange on March 14.
“I feel they went too quick for him at the 1200m, and the 1400m will suit better,” Lees said.
“He has won on both soft and heavy if the rain does arrive.”
Lees also runs prolific winner Brudenell in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m), and has secured James McDonald.
He dodged the stronger Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill last Saturday with Brudenell, who has been kept up to the mark since returning home after taking the Listed Abell Stakes (1200m) at The Valley night meeting on February 28.
“The 1200m is Brudenell’s most successful distance of his 10 wins, and he has never been out of a place in four starts at Rosehill,” Lees said.
. Lees accepted with both Oakfield Prince (Big Dance Eligibility Wellington Cup, 1700m) and Rustemo ($200,000 Wellington Boot, 1100m) on Sunday, and stable apprentice Ben Osmond has been booked for both horses.
Story John Curtis, March 27, 2025
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