Kris Lees is happy to take a win however and whenever it comes and Tavi Time timing it well to win a second Group 3 Summer Cup to land a racecard double was just the Boxing Day fare he wanted.
A consistent performer but with a dearth of victories in 2025, the six-year-old gelding notched his first win since taking out the Listed Scone Cup (2000m) in May after winning the 2000-metre Summer Cup last year.
“It has been frustrating this preparation,” Lees said.
“He is more than capable on his day but he got the right pressure up front and Dylan (Gibbons) bided his time to get the runs when they appeared. Good win.
“He’s a backmarker and you’ll have bad luck which happens in big races.”
With 56-kilos on his back, Tavi Time ($4.80) denied Estadio Mestalla ($4.80) with a 61-kilo impost by 1¼-lengths with the latter notching his third-straight second placings following the The Gong (1600m) and The Ingham (1600m) over the past five weeks.
“He’s got that electric turn-of-foot and I did say to Kris that he can be lethargic early,” Dylan Gibbons said.
“He shot through and put a lengths on them but then wanted to reverse park and come back three-lengths.
He’s a bit tricky but on his day he can be electric.”
Earlier on the card, Lees won the Star Turn @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1000m) with five-year-old gelding Power Of The Brave ($3.30).
