TAVI TIME BACK AND ON BIG DANCE TRAIL

TAVI Time begins a new campaign at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday aimed toward The Big Dance.

The talented gelding will be one of Kris Lees’ three runners in a wide open Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m), but has fared the worst in the barrier draw in a capacity field.

Jason Collett is a new rider for Tavi Time, stable apprentice Ben Osmond rides Hellavadancer, and Dylan Gibbons partners Kind Words.

Five-year-old Tavi Time has won six of his 12 starts, and hasn’t raced since finishing fifth (coming from near last at the 400m) to Territory Express in the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 13.

“Tavi Time is coming up nicely,” stable spokesman Danny Greer said on Thursday afternoon.

“He has had two good trials, and has won first-up previously.

“Tavi Time has drawn awkwardly and is going to need to have some luck in the big field, and definitely will take improvement from the run.

“He has already qualified for The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 5, and that’s what Kris is aiming him at.

“The rain has helped Hellavadancer’s chances after having no luck at her last two runs.

“She likes the cut out of the ground, and also reacts well to Ben when he rides her.

“We’ve always liked Kind Words, who finished fourth in the Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm in early June and, like Tavi Time, has had two trials to prepare for her return.

“Once she wins another race, she is capable of putting a couple together.”

Changingoftheguard has his third start this preparation in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m), and James McDonald sticks with the import.

“He is a very genuine stayer who likes to build into his races, and his second run back over the 2400m has brought him on,” Greer said.

“Kris will be in a better position to determine which way to head with him after Saturday, but The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick a week later is in the back of our mind.”

Track conditions will determine whether Almania lines up in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1900m).

He has drawn poorly, and Ben Osmond’s 3kg claim will help alleviate his 64kg if he runs.

. Cloudland may be Lees’ sole runner at Saturday’s metropolitan meeting at Toowoomba, which features the Weetwood Handicap (1200m) and Cup (2000m).

Andrew Mallyon rides the gelding in the Class 6 Handicap (1300m).

Cloudland has been placed at both runs since resuming, and if the forecast rain for Toowoomba arrives, his chances will be enhanced, being a winner on both soft and heavy ground.

“It’s only a slight step up to 1300m from the 1200m, but he is now looking for that bit more distance,” Greer said.

Apprentice Bailey Wheeler has been booked for Memoria in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) against her own sex at Toowoomba, but that race is a back-up plan.

She is also an acceptor for the Untamed Sprint (1210m) at the Lismore Cup Showcase meeting on Friday, and the preference is to run her there, with Mallyon her rider.

Story John Curtis, September 26, 2024