BOXING DAY IS TAVI’S TIME AGAIN

Kris Lees called a halt to Tavi Time’s campaign after he successfully defended his Group 3 Summer Cup “title” at Royal Randwick today.

Given a brilliant ride by Dylan Gibbons, the New Zealand-bred gelding not only lifted his winning record to double figures, but boosted his earnings to millionaire status.

Tavi Time ($4.80), carrying 56kg (3kg more than last year), became the second horse this decade to land back-to-back Summer Cups (2000m).

I’m Imposing did the double in 2013-14.

“It’s a fitting end to a campaign which had been luckless up until today,” the leading Newcastle trainer said en route home.

“There’s really nothing else for him now.

“I’ll give him a break and look ahead to the late autumn and winter races.”

In scoring on Tavi Time, Gibbons (who served his apprenticeship with Lees), rode his 132^nd winner for him.

He gave the six-year-old gelding plenty of time to settle, but kept saving ground on the inside.

Tavi Time’s noted turn of foot – again evident when he caught the eye with a late closing ninth in a capacity field of 20 in the $2m The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on December 13 – came to the fore once Gibbons found enough room in the straight to take a gap between the leader Shangri La Spring ($3.20 favorite) and eventual runner-up Estadio Mestalla ($4.80).

At the end his victory was “soft” over The Ingham runner-up Estadio Mestalla, and Unspoken ($7).

Tavi Time’s 10^th win – he has also been placed on six occasions – from 28 starts took his earnings to $1,114,625.

His triumph capped a successful Boxing Day for Lees, who scored earlier at Randwick with Power Of The Brave ($3.30) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m) for four-year-olds and upwards.

Well rated in front by stable apprentice Will Stanley, Power Of The Brave never looked like losing as he outpaced his rivals.

He quickly took up the running and comfortably defeated Silentsar ($10) and $101 bolter Heir Apparent to post the sixth win of his career.

The Brave Smash five-year-old was successful first-up in a Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (900m) at home on October 7, and this was his sixth start this preparation.

Lees’ double with Power Of The Brave and Tavi Time took his number of winners so far this season to 41.

Story John Curtis, December 27, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos