Lees eyes Brisbane double as Tavi Time targets Lord Mayor’s Cup

By Trent Crebbin, Danny Matthews, Craig Brennan and Mandy Cottell

Scone Cup winner Tavi Time is on his way north as Kris Lees chases a second Brisbane success this week.

Following two-year-old Damien's tough Doomben victory, Tavi Time was floated to Lees' Gold Coast base to contest Saturday's Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup at Eagle Farm.

Importantly from that starting point, the gelding has drawn an inside barrier in a small field of nine runners.

James McDonald is back on the five-year-old, having ridden him in an excellent first-up second to Sandpaper in a Benchmark 100 Handicap at Royal Randwick on April 19.

Tavi Time then ran fifth on a heavy track in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup on May 3 before taking the Listed Scone Cup, with Jay Ford aboard, 13 days later.

"Tavi Time has done well since Scone, and Saturday's race looks another suitable one for him," Lees said. 

"There's another stakes race during the Brisbane carnival if we decide to pursue that."

Tavi Time's Scone triumph clinched him a spot in the field for another crack at the $3m Big Dance at Randwick in November.

He ran fourth to Gringotts last year after bolting away with the Mudgee Cup the previous December.

Tavi Time has raced only once previously in Brisbane when narrowly beaten in a 3YO Handicap at Eagle Farm in March 2023.

Lees accepted with three-year-old filly Éclair Encore (Andrew Mallyon) for Saturday's Group 1 Queensland Derby, but is yet to confirm a start.

Éclair Encore was made first emergency but is in the field after the scratching of Saint Emilion.

"I accepted with her because I wasn't certain she would make the field for next Saturday's Group 1 Queensland Oaks," Lees said.

"But, it is looking as though she will get into the Oaks (in which Lees runs ATC Australian Oaks placegetter You Wahng, who ran fifth in the Group 2 The Roses at Doomben last Saturday)."

Infancy (Jason Collett) and Bubba's Bay (Andrew Mallyon) represent the stable in Saturday's Listed Coughlan Stakes for fillies and mares.

"The wide draw won't unduly hinder Infancy as she gets back anyway," Lees said.

"Bubba's Bay is drawn better and her Queensland record is so good.

"They can both run well."