Rivellino out to book spot in Inglis Millennium

Most of the two-year-old focus is fixed firmly on next week’s Magic Millions Carnival, but Rivellino will be racing for a spot in a rich Inglis race next month when he steps out at Randwick on Saturday.

The son of Too Darn Hot, a $180,000 Classic Sale buy, is likely to be directed towards the richest race in the Inglis Race Series if he impresses in the $160,000 Drinkwise Plate (1000m) that kicks off the Randwick card.

“He’s an Inglis horse, so if he happened to run well Saturday we’d aim him at the Millennium,” Kris Lees said.

“It’ll be good to see how he goes.”

The $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) will be run at Randwick on February 8.

Lees has been impressed with the way Rivellino has adapted to his work, particularly since the application of blinkers.

In his first trial, over 800m at Newcastle on December 4, he finished fourth, beaten almost five lengths, before rounding up his rivals in a soft win by almost two lengths over 900m at Rosehill on December 23.

“His first trial was OK, then we applied the blinkers and he really responded, so if he stays on that trajectory he’ll run really well,” Lees said.

“He didn’t run any time, but I loved the way he ran through the line. It was a nice trial.”

Rivellino, who has been the subject good support in the days leading up to Saturday’s race, will be ridden by Ben Osmond and spring from barrier two in the field that was down to 11 runners after the early scratching of the Ciaron Maher-trained Yolo.