TIME FOR A TAVI BREAKTHROUGH IN BRISBANE

SCONE Cup winner Tavi Time is on his way north as Kris Lees chases a second Brisbane success this week.

Following two-year-old Damien’s tough Doomben victory yesterday, Tavi Time was floated to Lees’ Gold Coast base this evening to contest Saturday’s Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.

Importantly from that starting point, the gelding has drawn an inside barrier in a small field of nine runners.

James McDonald is back on the five-year-old, having ridden him in an excellent first-up second to Sandpaper in a Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 19.

Tavi Time then ran fifth on a heavy track in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) on May 3 before taking the Listed Scone Cup (1600m), with Jay Ford aboard, 13 days later.

“Tavi Time has done well since Scone, and Saturday’s race looks another suitable one for him,” Lees said today.

“There’s another stakes race during the Brisbane carnival if we decide to pursue that.”

Tavi Time’s Scone triumph clinched him a spot in the field for another crack at the $3m Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick in November. He ran fourth to Gringotts last year after bolting away with the Mudgee Cup the previous December.

Tavi Time has raced only once previously in Brisbane when narrowly beaten in a 3YO Handicap (1820m) at Eagle Farm in March 2023.

Lees accepted with three-year-old filly Éclair Encore (Andrew Mallyon) for Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m), but is yet to confirm a start.

Éclair Encore was made first emergency but is in the field after the scratching of Saint Emilion.

“I accepted with her because I wasn’t certain she would make the field for next Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m),” Lees said.

“But it is looking as though she will get into the Oaks (in which Lees runs ATC Australian Oaks placegetter You Wahng, who ran fifth in the Group 2 The Roses at Doomben last Saturday).”

Infancy (Jason Collett) and Bubba’s Bay (Andrew Mallyon) represent the stable in Saturday’s Listed Coughlan Stakes (1200m) for fillies and mares.

“The wide draw won’t unduly hinder Infancy as she gets back anyway,” Lees said.

“Bubba’s Bay is drawn better and her Queensland record is so good.

“They can both run well.”

Lees has six acceptors at Saturday’s Rosehill Gardens fixture, and these were his thoughts on them:

LIKE LUKEY (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1400m): “Coming up well, and has trained on strongly since her excellent first-up second in the Country Cup at Scone a fortnight ago. Has drawn nicely and should run well again.”

POWER OF THE BRAVE and ALLIRI (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1100m): “Power Of The Brave is in great form, and I scratched him from a Randwick race last Saturday because of the very heavy ground. Will Stanley’s 3kg claim is a big help from an awkward draw. Alliri is a promising filly resuming, and has had two nice trials and has drawn well.”

ROGUE BEAR (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1500m): “Resuming and I’m expecting he will need this run.”

KIND WORDS (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1800m): “Excellent performance from well back when a close third at Scone a fortnight ago. Not drawn the best again but going well and ready to get a win on the board.”

FIRST PERSON (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1200m): “Couldn’t be in better form and going for the hat-trick. Followed Newcastle victory on May 3 with a gritty Warwick Farm performance 18 days later. Both were on Heavy 10 tracks, and drawn nicely on Saturday in big field. Up to Saturday grade now, but heavy ground again is a bonus for her.”

Story John Curtis, May 29, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos