RIVELLINO READY FOR INGLIS MILLENNIUM

KRIS Lees isn’t unduly concerned about Rivellino’s wide draw in tomorrow’s $2m Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Royal Randwick.

A winner at his first start at the same track over 1000m in January, the Too Darn Hot colt has drawn 16 in the capacity field, but will come in a couple if the emergencies (one of whom has already been scratched) do not secure starts.

“It’s only the one turn at Randwick from the 1100m start, and Rivellino is not going to be in the first three or four anyway,” the leading Newcastle trainer said this morning.

“Hopefully, James McDonald can find a good spot on himwith cover, and he’ll be strong late.

“He has trained on well since his second (when McDonald rode him for the first time) in an 800m trial at Randwick on January 28.

Rivellino has been one of the best backed Millennium runners.

At $6 earlier in the week, he was at $5 this morning with TAB.com.au, and is second favorite behind Melbourne filly Price Tag ($3.50).

Lees also takes Hellavadancer to Randwick, and stable apprentice Ben Osmond’s 3kg will help offset her 61.6kg handicap in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m).

It’s a race for mares four-year-old and upwards, and unlike her stablemate, she has drawn beautifully near the inside.

Hellavadancer resumed with an excellent fifth to Cosmonova(beaten only two and a half lengths) in a 1200m Benchmark 78 Handicap against her own sex at the same track a fortnight ago.

“Hellavadancer is a very consistent mare, and the good barrier is certainly a big help,” Lees said.

“We don’t look like getting any rain until Sunday, but it would be an advantage to her if it came earlier.”

Lees claimed a Canterbury double last week with Barazin and Memoria (who dead-heated), and Prime Impact and Russian Roni will represent the stable there tonight.

But he isn’t confident he can pull off a repeat.

Apprentice Anna Roper will ride Prime Impact in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1900m), and Osmond partners Russian Roni in the Evening Star Benchmark 78 Handicap (1550m).

“I’ve decided to take blinkers off Prime Impact and replace them with visors,” Lees said.

“It’s a little change, and hopefully it works.

“Prime Impact ran well first-up when third over 1550m at Canterbury last month, and has won second-up before.

“I took Russian Roni out of a race in Brisbane last Saturday to run tonight.

“He has drawn the outside in a small field, and I want to see him show something at only his second run for us.”

Lees has sent grand old-stager Almania (Andrew Mallyon) to Queensland to contest tomorrow’s Open Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.

“The mile is probably a bit short for him, but he has a bit of quality all the same,” he said.

“Almania has now had two runs since a break, and is getting fitter.”

Story John Curtis, February 7, 2025