“BARRIER THREE BETTER THAN 13” FOR RIVELLINO

KRIS Lees was straight to the point when asked about Rivellino’s draw for Saturday’s $5m Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens.

“I’d rather three than 13,” he said after his unbeaten colt came up with an inside barrier for the world’s richest two-year-old event.

“They can sit wide and win at Royal Randwick, but not at Rosehill,” Lees said.

“As they always do in the Slipper they will run along, and I’m sure Rivellino will get his chance.

“I’m really happy with him.”

Rivellino is one of only two youngsters going into the Slipper with an unbeaten record.

He has won all three starts, the latest in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 1, and Sydney colt King Of Pop (the recent Canberra Black Opal Stakes winner) has won both his starts.

Lees used blinkers on Rivellino when the Too Darn Hot colt trialled for the second time, and beat seven rivals in a 900m heat at Rosehill two days before Christmas.

He then put blinkers on him for his debut victory in a 2YO Maiden Plate (1000m) at Randwick on January 4, and they stayed on for his following victories in the $2m Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick on February 8 and the Skyline three weeks later.

“Rivellino doesn’t wear them in his work, only when he goes to the races,” Lees said.

“No doubt it has been a help, and I certainly won’t be taking them off him on Saturday.”

Rivellino will be Lees’ only second Golden Slipper runner after the filly Elimbari ran last at $101 in Crystal Lily’s 2010 edition.

TAB.com.au shortened Rivellino’s quote from $11 to $9.50after today’s barrier draw. Favorite Wodeton, who drew just inside him, hangs on to favoritism at $4.60.

Lees’ close friend Hugh Bowman will fly in from Hong Kong on Friday to hopefully add Rivellino to his 2020 Slipper triumph on Farnan, and give the trainer his 18th major.

Bowman, who rode three winners at Sha Tin last Sunday, is chasing his 100th Australian Group 1 success.

He hasn’t ridden in Sydney since last year’s Slipper when unplaced on Dublin Down, but did ride at last year’s Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington in November.

Lees accepted with four horses – Valimi (Tommy Berry), Kind Words (Tim Clark), Bestower (Andrew Gibbons) and Imposant (Tom Sherry) - for Thursday’s Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1400m) at Newcastle.

“I might keep one of them for the Kembla Grange Qualifier (1400m) on Saturday, but all four have drawn well at Newcastle,” Lees said.

Lees has qualified Lord Of Biscay for the $1m Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 12, and will trial him before he tackles the race.

Lord Of Biscay, after a tough run, qualified when narrowly beaten by Welcometobarbados in an earlier Newcastle Qualifier (1400m) on March 1.

. Unfortunately, last year’s PMC Final winner Territory Express’ attempt to defend his title is over before it started.

Trainer Paul Niceforo was keen to run the gelding in Thursday’s Newcastle Qualifier to win a spot in the April 12 Final, but RacingNSW stewards had the last say.

“Whilst Racing Victoria stewards passed Territory Express to race at Flemington on March 8 (a stone bruise prevented him from running) after a Cranbourne jumpout on March 3 when he began well, our stewards here want him to trial before them,” Niceforo said this evening.

“It’s very disappointing indeed. Territory Express galloped well this morning, and is fine and was ready to go to Newcastle.

“Now I’ll have to take him to Goulburn on Sunday to trial after the last race to get him cleared.

“I’ve got a back-up plan to trial at Kembla Grange the following day if there is a lot of rain at Goulburn and the trial doesn’t proceed.”

With the Provincial-Midway Championships off the radar, Niceforo reverts to hopefully getting his gelding into the $4m Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 5 by contesting the Group 3 Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday week.

Territory Express would have contested last year’s Doncaster had he not been inched out by Democracy Manifest in the ballot-free Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill 12 months ago.

He then brilliantly won a “consolation” PMC Final.

“If Jean Van Overmeire is happy with Territory Express in the Prelude, he can ride him in the Doncaster,” Niceforo said.

Territory Express (52.5kg) is currently equal 35th in order of entry for the Doncaster, but a Prelude victory would automatically guarantee him a start.

 Story John Curtis, March 18, 2025