Kris Lees is confident Rivellino is tracking the right way into the spring despite being one of the outsiders for Saturday’s Golden Rose at Rosehill.
The colt heads into the $1 million feature following a fourth placing behind Raging Force in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) and a midfield effort in the Run To The Rose (1200m) when Tempting proved too sharp.
“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 among the standout youngsters last season, notching three straight wins including the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m). He then flew home for fourth in the Golden Slipper (1200m) before closing his campaign with a close fifth in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Drawn wide in a nine-horse field, Lees said much will depend on how the race is run. “How the track plays at Rosehill we won’t know until the day but a genuine tempo will be to his liking,” he said.
He also suggested the Caulfield Guineas looms as Rivellino’s next step. “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.”
Meanwhile, Changingoftheguard, a recent winner, bypasses the Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) and will instead head to the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m). Stablemate Cleveland runs in Saturday’s Colin Stephen after a fourth placing last start.
“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 last victory came in the 2023 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m), where he toppled 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare.
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