SCONE CUP WINNER ON ANOTHER BIG DANCE ROUTE

Kris Lees accepting the Scone Cup trophy following Tavi Time's win

SCONE Cup winner Tavi Time is likely to have one more start this campaign before Kris Lees plots another Big Dance campaign.

The New Zealand-bred gelding booked himself a second crack at the $3m Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick on the first Tuesday in November with a dominant performance in yesterday’s $200,000 Listed Cup over the same distance.

Lees previously won the 2022 Scone Cup with Rustic Steel, who later that year became the inaugural Big Dance winner.

Given a great ride by Jay Ford (who won the 2022 The Coast at Gosford on Rustic Steel for Lees), Tavi Time ($8) sprinted clear over the last 200m to defeat Strait Acer ($41) and Grebeni ($18).

It was the five-year-old’s ninth win from 21 starts and boosted his earnings to just over $823,000.

Initially sold in New Zealand for $60,000 as a yearling, Tavi Time was subsequently purchased by part-owner Adrian Pazman for $130,000 as Lot 176 at the 2021 Inglis Ready2Race sale in Sydney as an early unraced two-year-old.

Tavi Time ran fourth to Gringotts in last year’s Big Dance, and the following month won the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick before a spell.

“Everything worked out well for Tavi Time yesterday,” Lees said this morning.

“He went into the race third-up, appreciated the softer ground rather than the heavy at Hawkesbury when he ran fifth in the Cup a fortnight ago, and was given a lovely ride by Jay from the inside barrier.

“But I still think he has some upside.

“As he is in such a good head space at present, I will probably give him one more run this campaign, perhaps in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm in a fortnight.

“That race may be more suitable than the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup over the 2000m at Rosehill Gardens the same day.”

Tavi Time completed a good day for Lees (who was the sole provincial winner) at the Scone carnival’s opening day as he also snared the Class 2 Handicap (1300m) with a resuming Tasoraay ($3.80), ridden by Tommy Berry.

The lightly-raced three-year-old was having only his sixth start for his second win, and has never finished further back than fourth.

Meanwhile, Lees is pressing ahead to the Brisbane carnival with his Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) placegetter You Wahng.

The filly ran her worst race when last in the $500,000 The Coast (1600m) at Gosford last Saturday, and her trainer feels she may have got her tongue over the bit.

“You Wahng has done well this week, and pleased me with her work at Broadmeadow this morning,” Lees said.

“At this stage she will run in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben next Saturday as her final trial for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight later.

Lees also has last start midweek Eagle Farm 1800m winner Éclair Encore on an Oaks path – but with a different lead-up.

The daughter of Maurice will contest a 3YO Handicap (2180m) at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Éclair Encore has been in excellent form this campaign, being placed on three consecutive occasions at Newcastle before scoring at Eagle Farm on May 7 in a Benchmark 70 Handicap against her own age.

Lees won the Queensland Oaks two years ago with Amokura, who is likely to begin another campaign in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on May 31.

Story John Curtis, May 17, 2025