By Ray Hickson
Trainer Kris Lees has had the luxury of planning Tavi Time’s path to next month’s Big Dance and he’s hoping the talented galloper shows he’s on target at Warwick Farm on Tuesday.
Tavi Time earned his eligibility for the $3 million feature with his Mudgee Cup win in December and Lees was pleased with his return effort at Rosehill a couple of weeks ago. The gelding clocked easily the fastest last 600m when running 33.51 seconds (Punter’s Intelligence) as he charged from the back to run sixth over 1400m at Rosehill.
Tavi Time’s trainer Kris Lees.Credit: Getty
“It’s his lead in to the Big Dance, he seems to be coming up well,” Lees said. “I was happy with his first-up run, he made nice closing ground and he’s probably better suited here.
“He’s looking for the mile now then it gives him just under three weeks to the Big Dance. This year is looking probably the strongest edition so he’ll have to be on his game.”
James McDonald rides Tavi Time in the Schweppes Handicap (1600m) and Lees said with barrier one he gets his chance to show that he is ready for his spring goal. Tavi Time, a winner of six from 13 starts, is an $11 chance in the Big Dance.
“It sets up nicely for him for this run and it will top him off,” he said. “He’s reacted well second-up at a mile previously so you’d expect him to run well.”
Stablemate Kind Words found the trip a bit short when resuming in the same race as Tavi Time and Lees feels while she will be more effective at Warwick Farm he’ll expect more from her third-up.
“She’s probably looking for further again; she ran well in the Oaks in Queensland,” he said. “In her first-up run she never really got into the race at 1400m and maybe will find them too sharp again at the mile. She’ll be better third run in when she gets to 2000m.”
Supplied by Racing NSW
