SYDNEY OR MELBOURNE GROUP 1 FOR ADELAIDE RIVER?

BARRIER grief has influenced Kris Lees to consider switching Adelaide River to Melbourne for a different Group 1 mission at Flemington on Saturday.

The leading Newcastle trainer this morning accepted with both Changingoftheguard and Adelaide River for the $750,000 Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick at the weekend.

Whereas the former drew barrier eight, the news wasn’t the same with Adelaide River, who drew barrier 18 in a capacity field of 18 plus two emergencies.

He will come in only one stall if both emergencies do not secure starts.

Last start Listed City Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) winner Changingoftheguard will definitely line up, and Melbourne jockey Ethan Brown has taken the mount.

Whilst Tyler Schiller has been booked for recent Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) runner-up Adelaide River, Lees intends accepting with the import in the morning for the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Adelaide River has 53.5kg under the handicap conditions of The Metropolitan, but 55kg in the south as the Turnbull (where he would take on Australian Horse Of The Year Via Sistina, who won the race last year) is run at set weights plus penalties, and carries the same prizemoney.

“The Turnbull field will be declared in the morning, and I’ll see how Adelaide River draws and then make a decision,” Lees said this afternoon.

Changingoftheguard and Adelaide River were both $11 chances late this afternoon in a wide TAB.com.au Metropolitan market, with Chris Waller pair Birdman and Newcastle Gold Cup winner Soul Of Spain joint favorites at $6.

Adelaide River was a $51 Turnbull chance; Via Sistina dominating the market at $2.10.

Adelaide River was beaten a whisker by Birdman in the Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick on September 19, but is weighted to meet his conqueror 1kg worse should he contest The Metropolitan.

Lees has confirmed plans to send his smart three-year-old Rivellino to Melbourne tomorrow to continue his spring campaign, and Adelaide River will join him on the float if a Turnbull start is a “goer”.

Rivellino drew the outside barrier (nine) in last Saturday’s $1m Group 1`Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens, and ran sixth to Beiwacht in a record 1:20.79.

“It has been hard to make ground at Rosehill, and the colt’s performance suggests he is looking for a bit further,” Lees said.

“We will press on to the $3m Group 1 Caulfield Guineas over 1600m on Saturday week.”

Stablemate Lord Of Biscay was a beaten favorite at the Rosehill meeting in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m), and RacingNSW stewards reported he pulled up lame (1/5) in the off foreleg.

“He should be right by the end of the week,” Lees said.

Lord Of Biscay qualified for the $3m Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 4 by easily winning the Ballina Cup (1590m) in January.

Story John Curtis, September 30, 2025 - Bradley Photos