A last start winner of the $2million Inglis Millennium, unbeaten Too Darn Hot (GB) colt Rivellino made it three wins in as many starts when securing his place in the Golden Slipper with a strong finishing win in the Group II ATC Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Trained by Kris Lees and ridden by Jason Collett, Rivellino was allowed to drift back in the first half of the race, but chimed in with 300m to run and was strong right through the line to win by a long head with Skyhook and Quietly Arrogant zooming up the inside to finish a close second and third.
Kris
Lees was thrilled with the result and will head straight into the Golden slipper off today’s win.
“He’s a proper horse this bloke and I look forward to getting him there,” said Lees.
“He’s pretty versatile and off a hot speed, you’ll see a better product again.
“He appears as though he will be more a 1400m horse in time, so three weeks into a fast run Slipper, I think will sit alright.”
A $180,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Rivellino was purchased by Lees Racing / Bahen Bloodstock and runs for a big syndicate of stable clients that includes his breeders Brian and Pam Ireland and Scott and Lisa Murray, who also raced his grand-dam Vecchia Roma.
He has banked over $1.4million from his first three starts and was foaled and raised at Segenhoe and prepped for sale by Greg and Jo Griffin of Lime Country Thoroughbreds, who selected him from the paddocks at Segenhoe as a suitable Classic sales horse.
Rivellino is the second foal and first winner from good metro winning So You Think mare Intrinsic, a daughter of multiple Group placed Testa Rossa mare Vecchia Roma.
Intrinsic has a yearling colt by Written By, a colt foal by State of Rest (IRE) and is now in foal to Pride of Dubai.
Rivellino continues the winning run for Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot, who is the leading second season sire by earnings, winners and stakes-winners.
