Kris Lees leaning towards Lord Mayor's Cup at Eagle Farm for Tavi Time
Trainer Kris Lees has confirmed Tavi Time will run in the Lord Mayor's Cup – but it is most likely at Eagle Farm and not Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Tavi Time, the last-start Scone Cup winner, is entered for two races of the same name and is topweight with 59.5kg for Sydney's version, a Listed race worth $200,000 and run over 2000m.
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But Lees admitted he is leaning to Brisbane's Group 3 race with the same prizemoney at 1800m.
'I would say Tavi Time will go to Queensland to run in the Lord Mayor's Cup at Eagle Farm,'' Lees said.
'The Eagle Farm race is 1800m so that is a nice progression. I was trying to find a mile race for him but there wasn't much on offer.
'Tavi Time was really good in the Scone Cup, he's trained on well, and I'm very happy with him. He's only early in his preparation so he should be right at his peak for Saturday.''
Lees also has Amokura ready to make her return to racing in Sydney's Lord Mayor's Cup with the mare allocated 56.5kg.
Amokura hasn't won since her Group 1 Queensland Oaks triumph two years ago but Lees said the mare is coming up well after having nearly 12 months off racing.
'She's had a long grounding for this preparation and will appreciate some give in the track,'' Lees said.
'But I just don't want it really heavy for her first-up so we will have a good look at our options in the next couple of days.''
The champion Newcastle trainer has a strong team of nine entered for the Rosehill meeting including Rogue Bear (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1500m), Kind Words (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1800m), First Person (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1200m), Power Of The Brave and Alliri (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1100m), Like Luke (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1500m), and Damien (2YO Handicap, 1300m).
Interestingly, Lees has accepted with his emerging filly Eclair Encore in the Group 1 $1m Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Eclair Encore is first emergency after the Derby attracted a full field of 18 including three fillies, Femminile, Belle Detelle and Chase Your Dreams.
'We weren't sure where Eclair Encore is in the order of entry for the Oaks next week so for that reason we decided to go to the Derby,'' the trainer revealed.
'She was a bit unlucky last start and is a filly that will stay. We could even back up with her in the Oaks if she comes through Saturday in good order.''
Lees revealed he has never prepared a Derby winner during his celebrated training career but his late father, Max, did win a Queensland Derby with County Tyrone in 2002.
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