Racing
Tavi just in Time in Summer Cup
Close finish sees trainer Kris Lees successful in Randwick Boxing Day feature.
With eight wins in 18 starts, Tavi Time is one of those horses with a strike-rate an owner can be proud of with the gelding landing victory in the Summer Cup.
In a driving duel to the line over the final 150-metres of the Randwick straight, Tavi Time put his head down at just the right moment to deny the Chris Waller-trained Osipenko the win in the $250,000 Group 3 Boxing Day feature.
"Full credit to the horse as this was his first time over 2000-metres," Danny Greer, stable representative for trainer Kris Lees, said.
"He's a horse that has been racing really consistently and this was the time to step him out to that distance.
"We were confident leading into the race and credit to Jay Ford for the ride.
"He kept his cool at the top of the straight when things probably didn't go to plan.
The Summer Cup was the five-year-old's sixth run this preparation and Greer was not ruling out another start.
With his prizemoney nearing the $700,000 mark, the son of New Zealand sire Tavistock was purchased for $130,000 at the 2021 Ready To Race Sale in Cambridge and takes his winning distance range to 1250-metres to 2000-metres.
Easing in late betting, Tavi Time ($4.80) prevailed by a nose-margin over Osipenko ($6) with early leader Townsend ($3.80 favourite) nearly three lengths away in third.
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