Kris Lees knew that Rivellino had above average ability early on and his confidence in making sure that James Mcdonald was in the saddle had the paid off handomsely with victory in the $2 million Inglis Millennium.
Restricted to horses bought at Inglis sales, the race still gives some prizemoney credit towards earning a spot in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) next month.
Passed in at the 2024 Inglis Classic sale, a deal done later for $180,000 saw the colt by Too Darn Hot qualify for this race.
Though trained in Newcastle, Lees decided two trips to Sydney for trials were required in the lead-up to the 1100-metre event.
“I thought it was easier to take the horse to J-Mac rather than get him to come up and ride it (at Newcastle),” Lees said of winning jockey James McDonald.
Applying blinkers in the second trial contributed to the sharp Millennium display.
“They went on at his second trial and he hasn’t had them on since he raced so we thought we’d keep them up our sleeve with a view that he’s probably more a seven-furlong horse but he was pretty good today,” he said.
“He’s a smart two-year-old and I’d say we’ll be pushing on to some degree. You could see him in the Golden Slipper, for sure.”
Unsure which path to plot towards $5 million juvenile feature on March 22, the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 22 is an option for Rivellino ($4) but Lees is openminded on the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ (1400m) during The Championships as a lucrative back-stop option.
Raced in partnership with the Throsby family, the red and green colours carried hold special significance for him.
“Those colours have been worn by some very good horses and my first winner (Cherokee Lass) back in the nineties had then in a maiden at Newcastle,” Lees recalled.
“Those colours go back a long way. He has got a lot of upside and it is a special feeling today.”
The Bjorn Baker-trained Within The Law ($5) put in a strong performance missing the win by a long-neck margin.
“We had the winner’s back and challenged it late, but he just had a big enough lead on me,” jockey Jason Collett said.