Tavi Time entered for same race at two different venues

Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) will run in the A$200,000 Lord Mayor's Cup on Saturday – it's just a matter whether it is at Rosehill Gardens or Eagle Farm.

It is unusual to have two races with the same name run on the same day over basically the same distance range with the same prizemoney but that is the case this weekend.

The Rosehill Lord Mayor's Cup is as Listed race over 2000m while the Eagle Farm version is a Group Three at 1800m.

The Kris Lees-trained Tavi Time is well placed in either race but the determining factor is the weather.

Sydney's forecast isn't encouraging and with the near-certainty of a heavy Rosehill surface on Saturday, Lees is looking at Eagle Farm for Tavi Time.

"I've accepted for both races but I would say it is Brisbane,'' Lees said.

"A soft 7 is probably as wet as Tavi Time wants it, he's not at his best on a heavy track.''

Tavi Time is topweight with 59kg for the Rosehill race, a handicap no horse has carried successfully in the race since Caranna won shouldering 60kg (9st 4lbs) in 1958.

The Lees-trained gelding has slightly less weight for Eagle Farm where he has been allocated 58.5kg.

Tavi Time has been unplaced in three starts this campaign but his form is much better than it reads on paper, particularly his last start effort when he never got any clear galloping room and went to the line hard held when sixth in Hellsing's Scone Cup (1600m).

"You could make a case he should have won the Scone Cup but that is racing,'' Lees said.

"At least we know he is going really well and is ready for the step up in trip either way on Saturday.''