Randwick Inside Mail: Kris Lees’ gun 2yo Rivellino to banish Golden Slipper sorrow in 2025 Skyline Stakes

His father won the Slipper by seven lengths with Luskin Star, but Kris Lees’ only runner in the race finished dead last. That memory could be banished this year if Rivellino continues his unbeaten run in Saturday’s Skyline Stakes.

Champion Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has a humorous take on his only previous Golden Slipper experience.

“My Dad, Max’s first Slipper runner, Luskin Star (1977), won by seven lengths. My only runner, Elimbari (2010) ran last behind Crystal Lily,’’ he said.

But Lees has his best chance yet to win the $5 million Golden Slipper with the unbeaten Rivellino.

The talented colt, winner of his two starts impressively, has his final lead-up race before the Slipper in the Group 2 $300,000 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

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Rivellino is already 11th on the order of entry for the Golden Slipper in three weeks but a top two Skyline finish will guarantee him a place in the rich two-year-old race at Rosehill on March 22.

Lees said Rivelleno had “come on the right way” since finishing powerfully to win the Inglis Millennium on February 8.

“There’s no doubt getting to 1200m at Randwick will suit him,’’ Lees said.

“He’s a nice colt but he’s a horse we have always though was more a 1400m horse.

“But a fast-run Golden Slipper certainly wouldn’t be beyond him the way he has kept improving.’’

$180,000 @inglis_sales Classic purchase Rivellino takes home just over $1 Million as he wins the Inglis Millennium in style for @Leesracing and @mcacajamez! 👏@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/RE3NZktxbd

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 8, 2025

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Randwick on Saturday

Rivellino has drawn the outside barrier for the 10-horse Skyline Stakes and is at $6 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting behind another unbeaten youngster, Shaggy, at $2.20.

The Lees-trained Rivellino is by Broadsiding’s sire Too Darn Hot, the former top sprinter who was raced by renowned English composer Andrew Lloyd Weber.

The colt is the first foal to race out of the So You Think mare Intrinsic, who Lees trained to win three races and finish fourth in two Listed events, the Ramornie Handicap and Gai Waterhouse Classic.

"I can see him in the Slipper" - @Leesracing

Trainer Kris Lees tells @SkyRacingAU Greg Radley he can definitely see @inglis_sales Millennium winner Rivellino in the @tabcomau Golden Slipper pic.twitter.com/sGCYIKaUK3

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) February 8, 2025

• Ray & Duff’s Randwick Saturday tips, analysis: $3.50 best bet, $9 value pick

Rivellino, a $180,000 Inglis Classic Sale graduate, is named after a key member of Brazil’s famous 1970 World Cup-winning football team.

Lees is chasing his second win in the Skyline Stakes after Uate won the race 2011.

Uate didn’t go to the Golden Slipper with Lees opting to concentrate on the ATC Sires Produce Stakes only for his two-year-old to finish a close second to Helmet.

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RANDWICK BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Mogal Monarch $8-$5 with a bet of $3000 at $6
Race 2: Kreon $4.60-$5-$4.80, My Last Hooray $15-$12, Fuld’s Doubt $26-$14
Race 3: Spring Lee $2.50-$2.25
Race 4: Shaggy $2.80-$2.20 with a bet of $2000 at $2.20]
Race 5: Snitzel Miss $4.60-$4.20, Within The Law $8-$6, Wootton Lass $26-$18 with a bet of $5000 at $18
Race 6: Amelia’s Jewel $2.80-$2.30 including a bet of $4500 at $2.70
Race 7: Lady Shenandoah $1.70-$1.55 after some big bets including $5000 at $1.60, $5000 place at $1.12, $4000 at $1.60, $3000 at $1.70 multiple times, Lady Of Camelot $4.60-$4.40
Race 8: Via Sistina $2.10-$1.85 with a bet of $10000 at $1.85, $2000 at $2
Race 9: Iowna Merc $6-$4.20, With Your Blessing $8-$6
Race 10: Birdman $3.60-$3.30, Kings Valley $3.60-$3.40, Sweysive $6-$5.50, Father’s Day $11-$8.50

• RAY THOMAS’ VERDICT: Who will win the Verry Elleegant Stakes?

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EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 4,5,6
Race 4: 1,2,4,8
Race 5: 1,2,5,11
Race 6: 1,2,3,6

QUADDIE
Race 7: 1,2
Race 8: 1,8,9
Race 9: 1,3,6,7
Race 10: 2,7,13,14

• ‘We don’t know his limit’: Ceolwulf ready for round two against Waller’s heavyweight mares

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PRICE CHECK

WOOTTON LASS (Race 5), who makes her debut in the Sweet Embrace Stakes, has trialled nicely in recent week and the filly has had backing, firming from $26-$18 including a sizeable wager of $5000 at $18. VIA SISTINA (Race 8) has been confidently backed to win the Verry Elleegant Stakes including a big bet of $10000 at $1.85.

Unraced @jsargentracing filly Wootton Lass holds off West Of Swindon to win a two-year-old trial at Randwick on Thursday with Valedictorian running on from last into third. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/iEVaI9xLFB

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 12, 2025

• Memo to punters: Don’t write off Snowden in Slipper

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TRIAL POINTERS

WOOTTON LASS (Race 5) makes her debut in a very strong Sweet Embrace Stakes but if her trials are any indication, she can run a competitive race. She was very impressive in her most recent trial at Randwick when she settled on speed, cruised to the front and held off a late surge from top colt West Of Swindon. Wootton Lass, a daughter of Coolmore’s sire sensation Wootton Bassett, is each way value around $18.

GOLDEN MILE (Race 9) is making a comeback after he had a failed stud career and was gelded. A Group 1 winner of the Caulfield Guineas as a three-year-old, Golden Mile impressed in a recent Warwick Farm barrier trial when he was deliberately kept wide throughout and was able to win his 900m heat without being put under any real pressure from his rider. He looks set to sprint well fresh in the Liverpool City Cup.

The @godolphin comeback kid Golden Mile, who has returned from stud as a gelding, outpoints Pulchritudinous and New Energy in a 900m trial at Warwick Farm on Tuesday. Behind them were names like Autumn Glow, Encap and Scarlet Oak. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/jD7ttfDNxj

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 10, 2025

• Shayne O’Cass’s Randwick Saturday tips, race-by-race analysis

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SECTIONAL STARS

OLENTIA (Race 6) was back at the rear of the small field in a slowly run Expressway Stakes that developed into a sprint home. Olentia was going to find it very tough to reel in the leaders given the early race tempo but she ran her final 600m in a brilliant 32.13s, the best of the day, to finish less than a length from the winner in fourth placing.

🪄 Magic Time produces some wizardry to take out the G2 Expressway Stakes at Randwick!@JChilds47 | @Grahame_Begg | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/oRQfm1YSTL

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 15, 2025

VIA SISTINA, CEOLWULF and FANGIRL (Race 8) all ran blinders in the Apollo Stakes and the best run of the race really comes down to a matter of opinion. Fangirl ran her final 600m in 32.66s and given she was in front of her two main rivals on the turn, she was just too good. But Via Sistina charged home in 32.75s including a final 200m of 10.98s to finish third and Ceolwulf came from last to run fourth, recording 32.63s for his closing 600m sectional.

We are fans!!!

Fangirl makes it back-to-back Apollo Stakes 🙌@cwallerracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/a0XgcxkMs0

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 15, 2025

• Clinton Payne’s Verry Elleegant Stakes runner-by-runner form analysis plus tips

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BEST BET

AMELIA’S JEWEL (Race 6) didn’t win a race last year but ran five seconds from eight attempts including The Quokka, Golden Pendant and Empire Rose Stakes. She’s resuming off two easy barrier trials but it is worth noting she has a very good fresh record of four wins and two seconds from six attempts. Amelia’s Jewel is a Group 1 winner of nearly $4 million so she is very well placed under the set weights and penalties conditions of the Guy Walter Stakes.

1⃣ Private Harry
2⃣ Sunshine In Paris
3⃣ Royal Patronage

The unbeaten @ndoyleracing sprinter does it easily for @AshMorgan6 in a 1000m trial at Rosehill on Tuesday. Behind the placings were Amelia's Jewel, Kimochi, Fawkner Park and Ausbred Flirt. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/g9bQBRG7NC

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 17, 2025

• EXPERT TIPS: Verry Elleegant Stakes, Surround Stakes, Australian Guineas

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VALUE

SHE WITHIN (Race 2) drew an outside gate and was three-wide without cover at Canterbury but still looked likely to score only to be run down in the shadows of the post over 1250m. She has to drop back to 1000m here has drawn barrier two and if she can hold her position early, the filly will give a great sight. She Within is very genuine and is good value at near double figure odds.

Originally published as Randwick Inside Mail: Kris Lees’ gun 2yo Rivellino to banish Golden Slipper sorrow in 2025 Skyline Stakes