Kris Lees eyes San Domenico Stakes return with exciting colt Rivellino

Rivellino was a luckless fourth in the Group 1 Golden Slipper in the autumn but will get another chance at high honours this spring.

Rivellino is still a month away from racing. PIcture: Getty Images

Trainer Kris Lees has circled the Group 3 $250,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) as the likely spring kick-off point for exciting colt Rivellino.

Rivellino, an unlucky fourth in this year’s Golden Slipper, had his first public hitout with a low-key barrier trial at Gosford on Wednesday in preparation for another Group 1 assault this spring.

Champion jockey James McDonald put the son of Too Darn Hot through his paces in an 800m heat, where he finished sixth behind Group 1 winners Gringotts and Another Wil.

Lees intends to give Rivellino another trial before his likely return at Rosehill Gardens on September 30.

“I’m happy with how he’s progressing,” Lees said.

“I think he’s matured somewhat.

“I haven’t noticed a huge difference in him physically but mentally he’s grown up quite a bit.

“He was never a revy horse, he was more a bit of a lad and you had to keep an eye on him. He’s more sensible now.

“He’s a willing colt and you always wonder what the crop is like but I think he’ll be competitive wherever we step him out.”

La Pelago sticks the head out to beat Last Druid with First Person in third in an 800m @gosford_races trial on Wednesday - Group 1 winners Gringotts and Another Wil followed with classy colt Rivellino also trialling. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/Ml0jjJRkyT

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 23, 2025

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Bookies rate Rivellino as a $15 chance in Golden Rose betting while he is an $11 hope in the Coolmore Stud Stakes later in the spring.

His return to the races is likely to come a week after the two horses which finished in front of him in the trial - Gringotts and Another Wil.

Both Ciaron Maher-trained gallopers also had a quiet morning out in their first public trial with the stable likely to target the Group 1 $1m Winx Stakes (1400m) first-up on August 23.

Two-time Group 1-winning stablemate Light Infantry Man is set to join them in the spring Group 1 opener after also having a quiet 800m trial on the Central Coast.

“At this stage, that’s the plan for Another Wil, Gringotts and Light Infantry Man to get them started in the Winx Stakes,” Maher’s stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord told Sky Sports Radio.

Originally published as Kris Lees eyes San Domenico Stakes return with exciting colt Rivellino