BLINKERS BACK ON RIVELLINO ON TOP JOCKEY’S ADVICE

KRIS Lees has adopted Craig Williams’ advice to put blinkers back on Rivellino for his spring carnival swansong at Royal Randwick tomorrow.

Nash Rawiller returns as the three-year-old’s rider in the $1m Group 2 Callander-Presnell (1600m) after Williams partnered the colt when eighth to Autumn Boy in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas over the same distance on October 11.

“I took blinkers off Rivellino for the Guineas, and he jumped well,” Lees said this morning.

“However, Craig said he was fine for the first half of the race, but felt he needed them for the second half.

“Rivellino wasn’t comfortable on the home turn at Caulfield, but got going again late in the race.

“He has worked well since coming home and is dropping in grade, and it’s a much smaller field now than the Guineas.

“This will be his last run this campaign.”

Lees has decided to continue Changingoftheguard’sMelbourne campaign following his sixth to Torranzino in yesterday’s Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m).

“He was disappointing on face value, but I’m prepared to forgive him,” he said.

“I don’t feel he was suited when they didn’t run along at a decent pace, and he was left flatfooted under his 60kg over the last 200m on the soft track.

“We’ll press ahead to the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday week.”

Meanwhile, stablemate Cleveland’s chances of joining Changingoftheguard at Flemington rest solely on his performance in tonight’s $750,000 Group 3 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).

“Cleveland (Jye McNeil) returns to the scene of the crime (he won this race two years ago),” Lees said.

“He is out of form, but there have been sprinklings of a return.

“Hopefully going back to The Valley will get him back into form.”

Whilst the Gold Cup winner gets a “free ticket” into the first ever $10m Melbourne Cup, Lees says Cleveland needs to win impressively to justify heading there.

Power Of The Brave, to be ridden by stable apprentice Will Stanley, also lines up at The Valley in the 55 Second Challenge Series 1 Final (955m).

“Power Of The Brave is going well, and from an inside draw I can see him running a race tonight,” Lees said.

Whilst Rivellino is Lees’ sole Randwick representative, the leading Newcastle trainer will have three runners at Doombentomorrow.

Dual acceptor Thundering Soul lines up in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m), Imposant tackles the Class 6 Handicap (1350m) against her own sex, and Dream Hour goes to the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m).

“Thundering Soul would be better suited at Eagle Farm, but he is capable and not without a chance if he gets around the tighter Doomben track okay,” Lees said.

Both Imposant and Dream Hour missed Eagle Farm engagements last Saturday when a thunderstorm struck and put paid to the last three races.

“Imposant gets her chance to return to the winning list,” Lees said.

“By the time she got into the clear at Doomben last time, the winner Freeland had momentum up down the outside.

“She ran second, and booking apprentice Cobi Vitler means she has a 3kg turnaround on that mare, and has drawn much better.

“Dream Hour has drawn awkwardly, although there are a number of scratchings already.

“I’ll run him as he likes getting to the outside anyway, and stepping up to the ‘mile’ will suit.”

Story John Curtis, October 24, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos