Rivellino on target for Inglis Sires’ tilt

Kris Lees will give his two-year-old colt Rivellino another chance at Group 1 success this weekend, backing up from a strong performance in the Golden Slipper to contest the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m at Randwick.

Rivellino finished with purpose to grab fourth in the Slipper, just over two lengths behind Marhoona, and now gets his opportunity at a longer trip that should play more to his strengths.

“I’m mindful he’s had a long preparation but with that said, his runs up until now have been spaced by three weeks or more,” Lees said.

“He’s always given an indication he’d be comfortable at 1400 metres, which he finds (on Saturday) and from what I’ve seen of him at home, I don’t think a wet track will have any negative effect either. So I’m looking forward to Saturday.”

According to Lees, Rivellino has bounced out of the Slipper in great condition, and he's particularly encouraged by Hugh Bowman’s commitment to ride the colt again in the Sires’, flying in from Hong Kong to do so.

“He was adamant he wanted to come back and ride him again, so that will do me,” Lees said.

Rivellino began his career with three consecutive wins, including a sharp debut at Randwick over 1000m before capturing the lucrative $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m).

He then stamped his Golden Slipper credentials with a convincing win in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m).

Lees felt the Slipper run validated his belief that the 1400m in the Sires’ would be ideal for the Too Darn Hot colt.

“He ran really well,” Lees said of his performance in the Golden Slipper.

“I wouldn’t say he was a good thing beaten, but things probably just didn’t go his way.

I think you could make a case that he could have been right in the finish.”

The colt was a touch slow out of the gates and was forced to settle behind the main contenders, which left him with too much ground to make up in the straight.

“They were all in a line at one stage so we were the last one to get the run, which was always going to be the case,” he said.

“He’s going to get a small field in the Sires’. He hasn’t got brilliant gate speed, if he’s got an Achillies’ heel, so a small field probably negates that.”