RIVELLINO’S TONGUE TIE FOR GUINEAS MISSION

A tongue tie goes on Rivellino tomorrow as Kris Lees chases a second Randwick Guineas 10 years apart.

The leading Newcastle trainer won the Group 1 1600m feature for three-year-olds with Le Romain (Christian Reith) in 2016, and very nearly again the following year when Invincible Gem was just nabbed by Inference.

Like $21 chance Le Romain, Rivellino (Jason Collett) is an outsider ($41 with TAB.com.au this morning), but his trainer isn’t selling him short.

“Rivellino has been playing with his tongue a bit, so hopefully the gear change will do the trick,” Lees said this morning.

“Obviously the Guineas market is dominated by three horses (Autumn Boy, Sheza Alibi and Ninja), but Rivellino can run a race for sure.

“His two lead-ups over shorter trips have been good, and the 1600m is going to suit him.

“He races well at Randwick (all his three career wins have been there, including the Inglis Millennium, 1100m and Group 3 Skyline Stakes, 1200m as a two-year-old last season).

“In regard to the remainder of Rivellino’s autumn campaign, everything is on the table including the Group 1 Doncaster Mile next month.

“It will all depend on how he performs tomorrow.”

Lees has withdrawn Cantiamo from the Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m) to wait another week before resuming her, but Kind Words (Tom Sherry) will definitely take her place in the Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m).

Kind Words put two wins in a row together in December, including the Group 3 Belle of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford, and had a break before finishing eighth to Lord Penman in a 1400m Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on February 21.

“She is back against her own sex, and getting back to 1600m is in her favour,” Lees said.

The winner of five Provincial-Midway Championships Finals, Lees is yet to qualify a runner for this year’s $1m Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 11.

He accepted with both Imposant and Miss Busslinger for tomorrow’s third Qualifier (1400m) at Hawkesbury, but decided this morning to rely on the latter, with Andrew Gibbons to ride.

“Imposant goes better at Newcastle, and has the chance to gain some black type in the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) today,” Lees said.

“Miss Busslinger ran really well when she made good ground in the straight to finish third in the opening Qualifier (1400m) at Hawkesbury on February 19, and has done well since.

“Whilst the short-priced favorite Matcha Latte is the one to beat, Miss Busslinger can run well again.”

Lees also accepted with Wisnierska (Class 1 Handicap, 1300m) and Oakfield Mamselle (Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1800m) at Hawkesbury.

“I’ll look at the weights for Newcastle on Thursday before deciding which way we go with Wisnierska,” he said.

“Oakfield Mamselle will run and has a good chance.

“She won a 1600m Benchmark 64 at home in late January, and wasn’t too far away when fifth at Canterbury over 1550m next time out.

“The bigger track and step up in distance suit.”

Lees will be watching from afar when Age Of Sail (Ben Thompson) lines up in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie tomorrow.

Whilst the gelding ran down the course from a wide alley in the 3200m Sydney Cup at Randwick last year, he was placed three times at the distance over hurdles in the UK as a three-year-old before coming to Australia.

“Age Of Sail has settled in well since arriving in New Zealand last Sunday, and has a nice weight (54kg) and an inside draw,” Lees said.

Age Of Sail was an $8 chance this morning, with Victorian stayer Brayden Star heading the market at $4.40 in an open contest.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 6, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS