Trainer Kris Lees has elected to keep Tavi Time (NZ) closer to home for the Scone Cup (Listed, 1600m) this afternoon instead of sending him north for the Group 1 Doomben Cup meeting on Saturday.
Tavi Time is on the second line of markets at $7.50 in a wide-open Scone Cup and he can be the catalyst for some black-type strikes by the stable on Friday and Saturday. Scone Race Club’s iconic carnival showcases six black-type events across 18 races with overall prizemoney of $2.27 million.
Lees has followed a winning formula with the son of Tavistock (Montjeu) who was a convincing winner of last year’s Scone Cup when racing third-up from a spell. He’s duplicating that preparation and can go back-to-back despite giving weight all round with 59kg.
“We entered him for the Doomben Cup (2000m) and Bernborough Hcp (1600m) but decided to go again in the Scone Cup,” Lees said. “He could still go up there for another crack at the Lord Mayors Cup (Gr 3, 1800m) in a fortnight and hopefully go one better than his second last year.
“Tavi Time is topweight and that’s a good leveller but I can’t argue with 59kg. He won with 56.5kg last year and then won his second Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick in December.
“He’s going well and his profile is similar to last year. He wasn’t beaten far in the Hawkesbury Cup last start after Dylan (Gibbons) had to go back from the wide draw but he got home nicely.”
Tavi Time was bred and initially sold by Pencarrow Stud for $60,000 to Kiltannon Stables at the NZB Karaka Yearling Sale in 2021. He changed hands again when knocked down for $130,000 at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale later that year.
His dam Guiseppina (Johar) won a Group 1 Telegraph Hcp (1200m) at Trentham and second-dam Battocchi (Success Express) was a Listed winner of the 1997 Ballarat Cup and Matriarch Stakes at Flemington for Lindsay Park.
Guiseppina has a yearling colt by U S Navy Flag (USA) that was purchased for $75,000 by Waikato trainer John Bell at Karaka in January.
Tavi Time has banked over $1.12 million from 10 wins in 30 starts for a partnership managed by Adrian Pazman and his other feature wins include the 2024 and 2025 ATC Summer Cups (Gr 3, 2000m) at Randwick.
Only two Scone Cup winners have doubled up the following year since its inception in 1947: Brave Prince (Kenmare) was bred by Stan Johnson to win in 2000-01 for trainer Sterling Smith. And the Carl Powell-bred Bridge Man (Roy Bridge) won in 1981-82 with trainer Rex Bowdler.
The Scone Cup is also a key qualifying race for the $3 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day. Lees won his first Scone Cup with Rustic Steel (Deep Field) in 2022 and a six-month plan paid off big time in the inaugural The Big Dance for his jubilant owners Ron and Judy Wanless.
Tavi Time was unplaced in last year’s renewal of The Big Dance won by Gringotts (Per Incanto) but had no luck in running. Stewards reported; “Had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the straight. Then steadied near the 150m when disappointed for a run between Cranky Harry and Matusalem.”
Lees has a strong team engaged at Scone and his black-type candidates on Saturday are Cantiamo (Too Darn Hot), Brudenell, (Russian Revolution), Imposant (Epaulette) and Infancy (Wandjina).
“Cantiamo is going well and has trained on nicely since her latest win at Randwick on Anzac Day,” Lees reported. “She will appreciate a good tempo coming back to 1100m and has a really good chance in the Denise’s Joy Stakes (Listed, 1100m).
“Brudenell has taken improvement from his first-up run at Hawkesbury but has drawn poorly in the Ortensia Stakes (Listed, 1100m). That might not be a disadvantage being the second day of the carnival.
“Imposant is very consistent, and has had a good gap between her second to stablemate Lord Of Biscay in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Randwick on April 11. She gets back anyway and just needs some luck in running to be in the finish of the Dark Jewel Classic (Gr 3, 1400m).”
As always, Lees would love to claim another Luskin Star Stakes (Listed, 1300m) named after the superstar sprinter trained by his father Max Lees. He won it in 2017 with Clearly Innocent (Not A Single Doubt) and has Infancy engaged after she failed to make a $775,000 reserve at last week’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
“Infancy will definitely line up in the Luskin Star. Her sectionals when she came from well back to finish second in the Sapphire Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick on April 11 were outstanding. This isn’t any easier, but she has drawn a good gate in the big field, and should be able to settle a bit closer.”
Scone is the Horse Capital of Australia and it comes alive ahead of a great weekend on the racing calendar. The atmosphere began building earlier this week with the Scone Horse Festival Parade complete with floats, horses, riders, schools, community groups and plenty of festival spirit drawing crowds along Hill, Liverpool, Kelly and Guernsey Streets.
And there was plenty of action indoors last night at the Scone RSL for the official Cup Calcutta after the $4.40 favourite Formal Display (Too Darn Hot) received a late start from second emergency. The second favourite was also popular after a final post from leesracing.com.au “We can’t fault Tavi Time. The big track and good surface here at Scone are definitely in his favour.”