Tempo crucial to Rivellino’s chances in 2025 Golden Rose

Underrated colt Rivellino takes his place in the Golden Rose this weekend with trainer Kris Lees pleased by his steady progress toward longer spring races.

The $1 million Rosehill feature will be Rivellino’s third start this campaign after finishing fourth to Raging Force in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) and finishing midfield in the Run To The Rose (1200m).

“His runs have certainly got pass marks with a view that 1400 and maybe even a mile this preparation is going to be more to his liking,” Lees said.

“First-up he stepped slow and had to give away a big start and second-up it was an advantage to be up on speed, which doesn’t suit his racing style.”

Rivellino was a top two-year-old, winning his first three starts including the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m). He then produced strong efforts for fourth in the Golden Slipper (1200m) and fifth in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

He has drawn the outside alley in a nine-horse Golden Rose, with Lees hopeful a solid tempo can offset the wide barrier. “How the track plays at Rosehill we won’t know until the day but a genuine tempo will be to his liking,” he said.

Lees added that Rivellino is showing signs he will excel over further. “We were hoping he would aim up at the shorter trips but we’ve always thought he was a 1400-metre to a mile horse. He will probably go to the Caulfield Guineas after this. That’s the indication he is giving us.”

Changingoftheguard, a dominant winner last start, will bypass Saturday’s Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) and head straight to the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m). Cleveland, who ran fourth in his return, takes his place instead.

“Cleveland is a good horse when he’s right,” Lees said. “He has been out of the winner’s stall for a while but he had a good autumn with his two runs and he seems to be coming up well.”

Cleveland’s most recent success came in the 2023 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m), when he outstayed 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare.

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