After turning heads with a late-closing fourth in the Golden Slipper, Rivellino is ready to have another shot at Group 1 glory this weekend in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick.
The Kris Lees-trained colt made up strong ground in the final stages of the Slipper, falling just short of the placings and finishing two and a half lengths off winner Marhoona. Lees is hopeful the step up to 1400m will suit the talented juvenile as he continues his busy but well-managed campaign.
“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.”
Rivellino came through his Slipper effort in good shape, and Lees was buoyed by Hugh Bowman’s decision to return from Hong Kong for another ride aboard the colt.
“He was adamant he wanted to come back and ride him again, so that will do me,” Lees said.
The son of Too Darn Hot began his career with three straight victories, including his debut win over 1000m at Randwick and a dominant success in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m).
He then booked his spot in the Golden Slipper with an impressive win in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m).
Lees believes his Slipper performance confirmed Rivellino is looking for more ground, making the Sires’ a natural next step.
“He ran really well,” Lees said of 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.”
A slow getaway and being shuffled toward the back of the field made things difficult, according to Lees, who is optimistic the smaller field in the Sires’ will work in his colt’s favour.
“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.”
