WINKERS come off Tavi Time as Kris Lees makes a two-pronged bid to snare the Group 3 Summer Cup at Royal Randwick on Thursday.
Both Tavi Time (Jay Ford) and Rustic Steel (Chad Schofield) will represent the leading Newcastle trainer in the annual $250,000 Boxing Day feature.
“Both horses haven’t raced at 2000m before, but it’s as good a time as any to try them,” Lees said this morning.
“I have decided to take winkers off Tavi Time to help him relax better.”
Tavi Time was a $3.60 favorite for the Summer Cup with TAB.com.au on Tuesday, with stablemate and topweight Rustic Steel at $9.
The 6kg weight advantage in Tavi Time’s favour notwithstanding, Lees is surprised at the difference in odds.
“Rustic Steel is a proven performer, and his last run when fifth to Robusto in the Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on December 14 was excellent,” he said.
“He was held up for clear running for quite some distance in the straight and finished off nicely, and was beaten only two lengths.
“Rustic Steel comes back to a Group 3 and goes up 1.5kg and has to manage 2000m, but carried this weight (59kg) when he won the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury last month.
“Both horses are fit and I’m expecting them to run well but at the odds, I’d prefer to back Rustic Steel.”
Lees has three other Randwick acceptors, but may run only one of them.
Consistent filly Alliri is in both the Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden Plate (1200m), and Provincial 3YO Maiden Plate (1200m) at Newcastle’s Boxing Day meeting on the Beaumont track.
Apprentice Zac Wadick has been booked for Randwick, and Andrew Gibbons for Newcastle.
Lees will wait until Thursday morning before deciding, but is leaning toward the Beaumont race.
“Alliri has been placed at all three starts, and gets her chance to break through if we stay at home,” he said.
Powerful Peg (apprentice Ben Osmond) and Imposant (Chad Schofield) are in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m) against their own sex, but the former has been withdrawn.
Instead, she will line up at Randwick on Saturday, also against her own sex, in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m), and Kerrin McEvoy has been booked.
“Imposant is resuming, and will take benefit from Thursday’s race, but can run well in a small field,” Lees said.
Along with Alliri, debutante The Final Say (Jose Severo) contests the Provincial 3YO Maiden Plate on the Beaumont track on Thursday, and her trainer says she will need this outing.
The well-bred I Am Invincible mare Lights Of Paradise (Gibbons) steps up to provincial company in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m) against her own sex.
She made an impressive return at Tuncurry earlier this month in The Pearl (a Benchmark 58 Handicap, 1200m).
“Admittedly, she is jumping in class, but could not have been more impressive at Tuncurry,” Lees said.
“Lights Of Paradise has had only the four starts and won two of them, so she is heading in the right direction.
“There’s no reason why she can’t go on with the job.”
Story John Curtis, December 24, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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