Latest news with #TaviTime
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
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. • Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg Polson and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! 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.
Daily Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Scone preview: Time for Lees' gelding to stand up and be counted
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Inaugural Big Dance winning trainer Kris Lees is hoping to fast track one, potentially, two of modern-day string into the 2025 edition via the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) in the nation's thoroughbred capital. The 2021 Scone Cup was Rustic Steel's ticket to the first Tuesday in November, the Ron and Judy Wanless galloper cashing in and earning the honour of distinction of inaugural Big Dance winner. Lees' Scone Cup duo, Tavi Time and Loch Eagle, are at different stages of their respective campaigns ahead of the feature, one of them race-fit, the other kept fresh for the occasion. Tavi Time, the New Zealand-bred son of Tavistock is third-up off a recent 'fading' fifth in the Hawkesbury Cup on a testing Heavy 8 surface. 'I was happy enough with the horse,' Lees said. 'We probably rode him out of his comfort zone for two reasons; how the track was playing and the alley (nine of 10) so we decided to push forward, sit outside the leader and taking on that hard-fit horse (Punch Lane). 'And to be fair to my horse, I think he likes it probably one or two grades firmer than what it presented so the run was okay under the circumstances. 'You would think, third run, he is ready to run to his best with two conditioning runs under his belt. 'It's a strong race but one I think he can figure in.' Loch Eagle, meanwhile, aims to maintain his compelling fresh record in what will be his first visit to Scone but his 11th run over the mile. In fact, his record at the 1600m stands up against any, or all, of his rivals. 'He's an Ingham winner and he has run in Doncasters and so forth,' Lees said. 'He is starting off straight at his trip but he's trialled up nicely. He always reacts well fresh over shorter course. 'The only other option was to run in the Luskin Star and I just thought 1300m would find him out, he'd be off the bit chasing throughout. 'So at a mile, he gets a chance to travel deep into the race.' Lees is down to saddle-up as many as 14 of his Newcastle residents across the two day carnival. Few of them hold more intrigue and interest than the Irish-born, English-raced gelding Brave Call. Brave Call boasts broodmare sires the ilk of Camelot, Sadler's Wells, Ile de Bourbon and Vaguely Noble that together account for his 2011m Maiden win at Windsor in England. That said, his Newmarket mile placing stands him in good stead when Tommy Berry steers him around in the Kia Ora Class 1 Handicap (1600m). 'He's a nice horse,' Lees said. 'He'll be better for the run. 'He'll be strong late if he can come through them and have a bit of luck.' Lees can end day one of the Scone carnival on a high when the progressive Denman mare strives to build on her tidy resume of three wins and four placings from just 10 runs so far. 'I think she is genuinely city class over the winter,' Lees said. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Canberra trainer Todd Smart is as confident about Cashbook's prospects in the rich Inglis 2YO Challenge as he was ahead of his 2023 race winner, Love Shuck. That's despite Cashbook's Wagga debut last month where he was backed in from $3.20 to $2.35 yet only managed to beat two others to the line but with substantial excuses. 'He did have a pretty hard run, he was three and four-wide the trip, and he got cardiac arrhythmia out of that as well,' Smart revealed. 'So we decided just to give him an easy week and a couple of gallops into a trial. 'His trial was really good. He never left the bridle and he pulled up well and hasn't missed a beat since. 'I am probably more confident in the horse going into this run than I was at Wagga.' Cashbook is racing for the lion's share of a $200,000 purse in the Inglis 2YO Challenge which is restricted to those bought at the firm's annual HTBA Yearling Sale in 2024. Smart found Cashbook there among Widden Stud's draft, paying $28,000 to take him home to Canberra with a view to returning to the nation's horse capital. 'As soon as you buy a horse at that sale, we buy it thinking that this is the race,' he said. 'We get up (to the sale) most years and we bought Love Shuck and it won a few years ago and I think this horse is a really good chance. 'From the gate, he will just need to go back and find cover and they can finish off at Scone.' Cashbook could be one of the bargains of a lifetime for Smart but even a win in the Inglis 2YO Challenge won't see him overtake Love Shuck in that department. Already a winner of $278,150, Love Shuck was knocked down at the 2022 HTBA Yearling Sale for just $6,000. Smart, meanwhile, will be a participant on day two on the Scone Cup carnival as well when the barnstorming Gerry Harvey-bred descendant of Skating, Straight Fire, contests the TAB Highway on Saturday.
Herald Sun
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Scone preview: Time for Lees' gelding to stand up and be counted
Trainer Kris Lees has already won a Big Dance and can take a step towards winning the 2025 edition with Tavi Time and Loch Eagle in the Scone Cup. Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Inaugural Big Dance winning trainer Kris Lees is hoping to fast track one, potentially, two of modern-day string into the 2025 edition via the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) in the nation's thoroughbred capital. The 2021 Scone Cup was Rustic Steel's ticket to the first Tuesday in November, the Ron and Judy Wanless galloper cashing in and earning the honour of distinction of inaugural Big Dance winner. Lees' Scone Cup duo, Tavi Time and Loch Eagle, are at different stages of their respective campaigns ahead of the feature, one of them race-fit, the other kept fresh for the occasion. Tavi Time, the New Zealand-bred son of Tavistock is third-up off a recent 'fading' fifth in the Hawkesbury Cup on a testing Heavy 8 surface. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 26, 2024 'I was happy enough with the horse,' Lees said. 'We probably rode him out of his comfort zone for two reasons; how the track was playing and the alley (nine of 10) so we decided to push forward, sit outside the leader and taking on that hard-fit horse (Punch Lane). 'And to be fair to my horse, I think he likes it probably one or two grades firmer than what it presented so the run was okay under the circumstances. 'You would think, third run, he is ready to run to his best with two conditioning runs under his belt. 'It's a strong race but one I think he can figure in.' Loch Eagle, meanwhile, aims to maintain his compelling fresh record in what will be his first visit to Scone but his 11th run over the mile. In fact, his record at the 1600m stands up against any, or all, of his rivals. 'He's an Ingham winner and he has run in Doncasters and so forth,' Lees said. 'He is starting off straight at his trip but he's trialled up nicely. He always reacts well fresh over shorter course. 'The only other option was to run in the Luskin Star and I just thought 1300m would find him out, he'd be off the bit chasing throughout. 'So at a mile, he gets a chance to travel deep into the race.' Lees is down to saddle-up as many as 14 of his Newcastle residents across the two day carnival. Few of them hold more intrigue and interest than the Irish-born, English-raced gelding Brave Call. Brave Call boasts broodmare sires the ilk of Camelot, Sadler's Wells, Ile de Bourbon and Vaguely Noble that together account for his 2011m Maiden win at Windsor in England. That said, his Newmarket mile placing stands him in good stead when Tommy Berry steers him around in the Kia Ora Class 1 Handicap (1600m). 'He's a nice horse,' Lees said. 'He'll be better for the run. 'He'll be strong late if he can come through them and have a bit of luck.' Lees can end day one of the Scone carnival on a high when the progressive Denman mare strives to build on her tidy resume of three wins and four placings from just 10 runs so far. 'I think she is genuinely city class over the winter,' Lees said. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Canberra trainer Todd Smart is as confident about Cashbook's prospects in the rich Inglis 2YO Challenge as he was ahead of his 2023 race winner, Love Shuck. That's despite Cashbook's Wagga debut last month where he was backed in from $3.20 to $2.35 yet only managed to beat two others to the line but with substantial excuses. 'He did have a pretty hard run, he was three and four-wide the trip, and he got cardiac arrhythmia out of that as well,' Smart revealed. 'So we decided just to give him an easy week and a couple of gallops into a trial. 'His trial was really good. He never left the bridle and he pulled up well and hasn't missed a beat since. 'I am probably more confident in the horse going into this run than I was at Wagga.' Cashbook is racing for the lion's share of a $200,000 purse in the Inglis 2YO Challenge which is restricted to those bought at the firm's annual HTBA Yearling Sale in 2024. Smart found Cashbook there among Widden Stud's draft, paying $28,000 to take him home to Canberra with a view to returning to the nation's horse capital. 'As soon as you buy a horse at that sale, we buy it thinking that this is the race,' he said. 'We get up (to the sale) most years and we bought Love Shuck and it won a few years ago and I think this horse is a really good chance. 'From the gate, he will just need to go back and find cover and they can finish off at Scone.' Cashbook could be one of the bargains of a lifetime for Smart but even a win in the Inglis 2YO Challenge won't see him overtake Love Shuck in that department. Already a winner of $278,150, Love Shuck was knocked down at the 2022 HTBA Yearling Sale for just $6,000. Smart, meanwhile, will be a participant on day two on the Scone Cup carnival as well when the barnstorming Gerry Harvey-bred descendant of Skating, Straight Fire, contests the TAB Highway on Saturday. Horse Racing Kris Lees looks set for a memorable Scone carnival with numerous chances across the two days including import Brave Call on Friday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL Horse Racing A pair of events has presented Craig Williams with an opportunity to win the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 for the third year in a row.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Scone preview: Trainer Kris Lees has a strong hand with Tavi Time and Loch Eagle flying the stable flag in the Cup
Inaugural Big Dance winning trainer Kris Lees is hoping to fast track one, potentially, two of modern-day string into the 2025 edition via the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) in the nation's thoroughbred capital. The 2021 Scone Cup was Rustic Steel's ticket to the first Tuesday in November, the Ron and Judy Wanless galloper cashing in and earning the honour of distinction of inaugural Big Dance winner. Lees' Scone Cup duo, Tavi Time and Loch Eagle, are at different stages of their respective campaigns ahead of the feature, one of them race-fit, the other kept fresh for the occasion. Tavi Time, the New Zealand-bred son of Tavistock is third-up off a recent 'fading' fifth in the Hawkesbury Cup on a testing Heavy 8 surface. What a tight finish in the Summer Cup! Tavi Time gets the nose in front of Osipenko and wins it! ðŸ�† â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 26, 2024 'I was happy enough with the horse,' Lees said. 'We probably rode him out of his comfort zone for two reasons; how the track was playing and the alley (nine of 10) so we decided to push forward, sit outside the leader and taking on that hard-fit horse (Punch Lane). 'And to be fair to my horse, I think he likes it probably one or two grades firmer than what it presented so the run was okay under the circumstances. 'You would think, third run, he is ready to run to his best with two conditioning runs under his belt. 'It's a strong race but one I think he can figure in.' Loch Eagle, meanwhile, aims to maintain his compelling fresh record in what will be his first visit to Scone but his 11th run over the mile. In fact, his record at the 1600m stands up against any, or all, of his rivals. 'He's an Ingham winner and he has run in Doncasters and so forth,' Lees said. 'He is starting off straight at his trip but he's trialled up nicely. He always reacts well fresh over shorter course. 'The only other option was to run in the Luskin Star and I just thought 1300m would find him out, he'd be off the bit chasing throughout. Loch Eagle finishes strongly to win the Ingham for @Leesracing! ðŸ�‡ â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2023 'So at a mile, he gets a chance to travel deep into the race.' Lees is down to saddle-up as many as 14 of his Newcastle residents across the two day carnival. Few of them hold more intrigue and interest than the Irish-born, English-raced gelding Brave Call. Brave Call boasts broodmare sires the ilk of Camelot, Sadler's Wells, Ile de Bourbon and Vaguely Noble that together account for his 2011m Maiden win at Windsor in England. That said, his Newmarket mile placing stands him in good stead when Tommy Berry steers him around in the Kia Ora Class 1 Handicap (1600m). 'He's a nice horse,' Lees said. 'He'll be better for the run. 'He'll be strong late if he can come through them and have a bit of luck.' Lees can end day one of the Scone carnival on a high when the progressive Denman mare strives to build on her tidy resume of three wins and four placings from just 10 runs so far. 'I think she is genuinely city class over the winter,' Lees said. â– â– â– â– â– Canberra trainer Todd Smart is as confident about Cashbook 's prospects in the rich Inglis 2YO Challenge as he was ahead of his 2023 race winner, Love Shuck. That's despite Cashbook's Wagga debut last month where he was backed in from $3.20 to $2.35 yet only managed to beat two others to the line but with substantial excuses. 'He did have a pretty hard run, he was three and four-wide the trip, and he got cardiac arrhythmia out of that as well,' Smart revealed. 'So we decided just to give him an easy week and a couple of gallops into a trial. 'His trial was really good. He never left the bridle and he pulled up well and hasn't missed a beat since. Deekaygeebee takes the opener at @mtcwagga today! 🎉 @widdoracing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 13, 2025 'I am probably more confident in the horse going into this run than I was at Wagga.' Cashbook is racing for the lion's share of a $200,000 purse in the Inglis 2YO Challenge which is restricted to those bought at the firm's annual HTBA Yearling Sale in 2024. Smart found Cashbook there among Widden Stud's draft, paying $28,000 to take him home to Canberra with a view to returning to the nation's horse capital. 'As soon as you buy a horse at that sale, we buy it thinking that this is the race,' he said. 'We get up (to the sale) most years and we bought Love Shuck and it won a few years ago and I think this horse is a really good chance. 'From the gate, he will just need to go back and find cover and they can finish off at Scone.' Cashbook could be one of the bargains of a lifetime for Smart but even a win in the Inglis 2YO Challenge won't see him overtake Love Shuck in that department. Already a winner of $278,150, Love Shuck was knocked down at the 2022 HTBA Yearling Sale for just $6,000. Straight Fire, contests the TAB Highway on Saturday.
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kris Lees hoping Tavi Time can take the first step towards Big Dance redemption with victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup
Trainer Kris Lees will have one eye on Big Dance redemption for Tavi Time when his classy campaigner headlines a heavy-handed assault on Hawkesbury's stand-alone card on Saturday. Lees will nearly have all bases covered with runners in four of the five feature races at the meeting, which is expected to take place on a rain affected track. Tavi Time ($8) will line up as one of the leading contenders in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) with Jason Collett back in the saddle. A spot in this year's $3m Big Dance is the main carrot for Tavi Time, which started favourite in the same race last year before finishing fourth in the main event. The consistent five-year-old has returned in top order this preparation after finishing a narrow second to Sandpaper first-up at Royal Randwick on All Aged Stakes Day. 'He was good first-up on a solid tempo and was at his top a long way out, which might have just found him out a touch,' Lees said. 'He's going well and the plan is to get him to the Big Dance again. 'He has good soft track form and the one run on really heavy was when the Gosford meeting got transferred to Newcastle so I would probably run him on an (heavy) eight or so.' Tavi Time will be supported by new arrival Love Poem in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m), promising colt Damien in the Clarendon Stakes (1400m) while Brudenell and Bubba's Bay make up a two-pronged attack in the Listed $200,0000 Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m). Love Poem ($16) is making her debut for Lees in the Guineas. Sandpaper hangs on to win the last at Randwick! @BBakerRacing | @nashhot | @aus_turf_club | @Darby_Racing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025 • Smith's 'unbelievable' win on game-changing day for NSW racing Kiwi trainer Stephen Marsh had the Snitzel filly to start her career and brought her over for the Group 3 P J Bell Stakes at Royal Randwick on day one of The Championships, where she finished ninth. Lees was a close observer of the race. 'I thought she raced a bit keenly watching the replay and we didn't have her then,' he said. 'She was little keen and has arrived in good order. 'She looks great and has had a tick over trial. From that gate (14) we probably have to give her a chance to be smothered up a touch.' Damien ($3.90) is on trial for a potential trip to Queensland and a crack at the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes if he can perform in the Clarendon Stakes with Jason Collett aboard. The emerging son of Hellbent put a field of older horses away stylishly first-up in a dominant 1200m event on home turf at Newcastle. 'Damien has returned in good order,' Lees said. 'It was a pretty strong maiden win against older horses, albeit I am not sure how much depth there was, it was a good test for him. It's Brudenell's Abell Stakes, careering away for a classy victory ðŸ'« Mark Zahra & Kris Lees combine for Listed success at The Valley ðŸ¤� â€' (@Racing) February 28, 2025 • Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Hawkesbury on Saturday 'Being by Hellbent would suggest he will handle the ground but we will see. He looked OK when he trialled on it and wasn't put under a great deal of pressure so I would say it was a little inconclusive on whether he handles it.' Sprinters Brudenell ($12) and Bubba's Bay ($9) are at opposite ends of their preparations. Brudenell, to be ridden by Dylan Gibbons, is deep in his preparation and is looking to bounce back to his best after being caught wide and fading in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes last start. Bubba's Bay is returning from a spell with Josh Parr booked to ride. 'Brudenell was a forgive run, off the track and working at Rosehill, they never win,' Lees said. 'He is a fit horse so soft is fine but really heavy is a reconsider. 'Bubba's Bay is a really consistent race mare and her trials have been good. 'She will sprint well fresh and improve with racing. We don't want it really heavy first-up.' 'There are a lot of fillies and mares options for her and I wouldn't rule out a Tatt's Tiara for her.'
