LEES SURPRISED BY RIVELLINO’S HUGE GOLDEN ROSE ODDS

KRIS Lees could not believe it!

TAB.com.au this morning listed his talented three-year-old Rivellino as the $51 outsider in

tomorrow’s $1m Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.

“He was quoted at $16 on Monday when all those 250 early nominations were in the race,” the leading Newcastle trainer said this morning.

“Now there are nine runners and he is out to $51.

“I can’t believe it. Rivellino ran fourth in the Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill in March after being slowly away, and you could make a case that he should have just about won.

“His two runs back over 1100m and 1200m have clearly shown that he is looking for 1400m.

“Nash Rawiller rode him for the first time when sixth to Golden Rose favorite Tempted in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill a fortnight ago, and knows the colt now.

“I’m really happy with how Rivellino has come on since that race.”

Rivellino has drawn the outside barrier in the nine-horse field, and Lees says he won’t be “screwing down” Rawiller with instructions.

“I will leave it to Nash to play it as he sees it when they jump, but I will say it is very hard to come from last and win at Rosehill. Hopefully Nash can get a nice spot on him with cover.”

Lees also runs Cleveland and Lord Of Biscay at the Golden Rose meeting.

Melbourne’s Ethan Brown rides Cleveland in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m), and James McDonald has the mount on Provincial-Midway Championships runner-up Lord Of Biscay in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m).

“Cleveland ran okay at his first start since the Sydney Cup (3200m) in April when fourth to

stablemate Changingoftheguard in City Tatts Club Cup (2400m) at Royal Randwick three weeks ago,” Lees said.

“He has trained on to my satisfaction, and I feel he can run well tomorrow.”

Lees said Cleveland, who won the 2023 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) before an elevated

temperature forced his withdrawal from the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington, is unlikely to back up in next Saturday’s Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick.

Lord Of Biscay was an excellent third to Lady Extreme in a 1200m Benchmark 88 Handicap at Rosehill on August 30 at his first start since the PMC Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 12.

He has since had a tick-over 1000m trial at Muswellbrook on September 17.

“This looks a nice race for him getting to 1400m second-up, and he should get every chance from the inside barrier,” Lees said.

“The $3m Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 4 is our goal with Lord Of Biscay.”

Lees won the inaugural running of The Big Dance with Rustic Steel (Rawiller) in 2022.

Lord Of Biscay qualified for this year’s feature by easily winning the Ballina Cup (1590m) in January.

Lees will wait until the morning before confirming a start for Barazin in tomorrow’s Toowoomba Cup (2000m) at the Queensland metropolitan meeting.

“He has drawn poorly, and there is another race for him next week,” he said.

“We’ll wait and see what scratchings there are just prior to the 7.30am deadline, and then decide.”

Story John Curtis, 26 September 2025.