Time' For Lees To Win A Hawkesbury Gold Cup
Kris Lees is yet to win a Hawkesbury Gold Cup, and says there’s no better “time” than Saturday to do it.
The leading Newcastle trainer will rely on dual Summer Cup winner Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) in the $250,000 Group 3 Richmond Club Gold Cup (1600m), and Dylan Gibbons will ride him.
Tavi Time ran fifth to accomplished wet tracker Punch Lane (So You Think) in last year’s Cup, and wasn’t suited by the heavy conditions.
He came out 13 days later and won the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) on a good surface.
With an excellent weather forecast for the remainder of the week, a “Good 4” track seems well in order for Saturday’s Gold Cup meeting, and that will suit Tavi Time perfectly.
Both the Hawkesbury Gold Cup and Scone Cup carry Big Dance eligibility, with the gelding’s Scone victory last year earning him a spot in the $3m feature at Royal Randwick in early November, and he ran eighth to Gringotts without a lot of luck in the straight.
Tavi Time carried 55.5kg at Hawkesbury 12 months ago, and rises 2.5kg, but has won both the Scone Cup and Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) for a second year running in between.
Lees was really pleased with his strong finish on resumption into seventh placing behind Captain Furai (Toronado) in a Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on April 18.
He carried 59.5kg then after stable apprentice Will Stanley’s 3kg claim, and now meets Cup favorite Captain Furai 2kg better.
“Tavi Time has trained on well since the Randwick race, and is set to again have a crack at both the Hawkesbury and Scone Cups,” Lees said this afternoon.
“He goes to Hawkesbury in good order, and is proven second-up.”
Million dollar earner Tavi Time has been a wonderful performer for the stable, winning 10 of his 29 starts and also being placed on six occasions.
By the outstanding late sire Tavistock, Tavi Time is out of Group One winning Johar mare Guiseppina (NZ)Tavi Time (Pic: Bradley Photos), who won the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) for Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie. Bred and sold by Pencarrow Stud, Tavi Time was initially sold as a yearling for $60,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Sale to Kiltannon Stables. He was later re-offered at the Sydney Ready To Race Sale where he was purchased by part-owner Adrian Pazman for $130,000.
