Unbeaten colt Rivellino ready to fire in $2m Inglis Millennium

Talented colt Rivellino can enhance his reputation on Sydney’s big stage when he takes on Saturday’s lucrative $2m Inglis Millennium at Royal Randwick.

Rivellino is the favourite for the Inglis Millennium. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

A vote of confidence from champion rider James McDonald has given trainer Kris Lees cause for optimism Rivellino can enhance his unbeaten record in Saturday’s $2m Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Royal Randwick.

Rivellino, a $180,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale buy, was a dominant winner of his only start when scoring by close to two lengths in Saturday grade over 1000m at Royal Randwick on January 4.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Lees’ stable apprentice Ben Osmond piloted the speedy youngster in his debut assignment however McDonald took over in his only public hitout since.

McDonald took Rivellino for a spin last week when the two-year-old finished runner-up in a 800m tune-up at Rosehill Gardens and will stick with him for his most important test to date.

“He has pulled up well from his tick over trial and James McDonald rode him and is happy to stick on him, which is always a positive,” Lees said.

“Barrier draws hold the key with these two-year-olds in these sort of races but I can’t fault my horse.

“He has come on well, which he will probably need to because I don’t know how much depth was in that race in won but we will find out.

“There is a form reference I guess because he beat Paul Perry’s horse (The Magic Man) and it ran second behind Wodeton as well, albeit it he beat it better than we did.”

Rivellino is a $6 chance to add his name to the Inglis Millennium honour roll that includes Castelvecchio (2019), Prime Star (2020), Profiteer (2021), Xtravagant Star (2022), Learning To Fly (2023) and Fully Lit (2024).

• Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five horses to follow from Rosehill

2nd strong trial this prep for a promising 2YO.

Bellazain (2f Zousain x Benella)
A $160k buy for @GaiWaterhouse1 & @bruceaslade from @widden at @inglis_sales Classic.
Only start beaten 3 lens Gimcrack S.

2nd - Rivellino (2c Too Darn Hot / Intrinsic) warming up for Inglis… pic.twitter.com/BYuscklft2

— Breednet (@BreednetNews) January 28, 2025

The Inglis Millennium has drawn a strong list of 21 nominations including unbeaten Inglis Nursery winner Within The Law as well as Saturday city winners Kujenga and Open Secret.

It will be one of two two-year-old events on the card with the Listed Lonhro Plate (1000m) all set to be staged with 22 nominations.

Listed winner Gatsby’s has opened as a $2.80 favourite for the Group 3 $250,000 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) with the likes of Linebacker ($4.50), Mayfair ($4.50) and Just Party ($8) among the 14 nominations for the race.

Originally published as Unbeaten colt Rivellino ready to fire in $2m Inglis Millennium