CLASSY NEWCASTLE COLT RETURNS AT RANDWICK ON SATURDAY

CLASSY Newcastle three-year-old Rivellino begins a new campaign at the weekend at the track where he has claimed all his three wins to date.

And the colt’s leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is eyeing the Group 1 Randwick Guineas at Royal Randwick on March 7 as the prime autumn target.

The 1600m Guineas, which Lees won with Le Romain (Christian Reith) in 2016, and very nearly again the following year when Invincible Gem (Brenton Avdulla) was pipped by Inference, carries a $1m purse.

Rivellino kicks off his current preparation against his own age in Saturday’s Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at set weights plus penalties.

The Too Darn Hot colt began his career by winning a 2YO Maiden Plate (1000m) at Randwick on January 4 last year, and the following month took the $2m Inglis Millennium (1100m); the new edition to be run on Saturday’s program.

Rivellino also won the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) there on March 1 before finishing an unlucky fourth in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens three weeks later, after not beginning the best and coming from second last of 16 runners at the 400m.

Lees spelled the colt after his first preparation as a three-year-old when runner-up to Ohope in the Group 2 Callander-Presnell over the Guineas 1600m course at Randwick on October 25, having been held up for clear galloping room at a vital stage in the straight.

The colt had run in two Group 1s – the Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill and Caulfield Guineas (1600m) – before the Callander-Presnell.

He has given Rivellino two barrier trials, at Rosehill on January 13 and Wyong on January 28 (second over 1000m in the latest).

“I’m really happy with how he is progressing, and he’s ready to go back to the races on Saturday,” Lees said today.

“The Eskimo Prince is a good starting point at a track he knows so well, and the Guineas is our aim.

“Rivellino also will be entered for the $2m Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 4, but that will depend on how he is performing once he contests the Guineas.”

Rivellino is at $26 in the latest TAB.com.au Guineas market.

Meanwhile, Lees is hoping to go one better with last year’s runner-up Lord Of Biscay (to Matcha Latte) in the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 11.

Lord Of Biscay, who hasn’t raced since late November on a heavy track at Kembla Grange’s The Gong Saturday metropolitan meeting, is scheduled to trial at home on Thursday week.

He is currently on the third line of betting at $11 for the PMC Final.

Lees has ruled both Damien and Saxobushi out of the forthcoming series, which begins at Hawkesbury on February 19 with a 1400m Qualifier.

Both three-year-olds have been racing at the summer carnival in south-east Queensland, including the Magic Millions meeting on January 17.

However, he hasn’t dismissed having a crack at Gosford’s 1200m Qualifier on March 14 with Hawker Hall, an impressive winner in a Class 6 Handicap (1200m) at the Magic Millions meeting on January 17; his fifth victory from 11 starts.

Lees clinched a double with his only two runners at his home track yesterday.

Etoile Filante ($1.70 favorite) easily won the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1500m), and Oakfield Mamselle ($10) was game in taking the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) at her second start this campaign.

Aaron Bullock rode both winners.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, FEBRUARY 1, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS