Rivellino might be one of the outsiders of the select Golden Rose field but trainer Kris Lees is satisfied the colt has been building nicely towards his major spring targets.
The first of those comes at Rosehill on Saturday in the $1 million showpiece where he arrives off a first-up fourth to Raging Force in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) and midfield finish behind Tempting in The Run To The Rose (1200m).
“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 better juveniles of his generation, winning his first three starts including the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m).
He was luckless when rattling home for fourth in the Golden Slipper (1200m) before rounding out his preparation with a fifth in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) when beaten less than a length.
He has drawn the outside in the select field of nine on Saturday and Lees says the pace of the race will be crucial to his chances.
“How the track plays at Rosehill we won’t know until the day but a genuine tempo will be to his liking,” he said.
“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.”
Impressive last start winner Changingoftheguard was among nominations for the Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) but Lees didn’t accept, instead confirming the horse would head straight to the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) next week
However, the stable will still be represented in Saturday’s race by Cleveland, who finished fourth behind his barn mate when resuming in the City Tattersall’s Club Cup (2400m) on September 6.
“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) when he defeated 2019 Melbourne Cup hero Vow And Declare.
