‘Best 2yo I’ve had’: Trainer Kris Lees pays Rivellino the ultimate compliment ahead of 2025 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Royal Randwck

“Samantha Miss ran second to Sebring in this race and then beat him in the Champagne Stakes,” he said.

“This colt would have beaten her at 1200m … from that point of view he is the best two-year-old I’ve had.”

Rivellino can only aspire to reach the level Samantha Miss did during her amazing three-year-old spring.

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Samantha Miss won a Group 1 Flight Stakes and Group 1 VRC Oaks while also finishing an excellent third behind Maldivian in the Cox Plate.

Rivellino ($4.40) has the chance to create his own legacy in the Sires’ but has already had a fantastic juvenile season with wins in the Inglis Millennium and Group 2 Skyline Stakes.

The son of Too Darn Hot was an eye-catching fourth in the Group 1 Golden Slipper with the Hong Kong-based Hugh Bowman returning to Sydney to pilot the colt in the Sires’.

“I am mindful he’s been in work for a long while but I can’t fault him,” Lees said.

“He worked well on Tuesday and appears to be in a good space.

“I think he will be suited at the 1400m.

“1400m has always appeared like something he’d like, looking at his mannerisms and the way he has raced and gives the impression.”

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Australian Oaks hopeful You Wahng ($11) will line up in the traditional lead up, the Group 3 $250,000 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).

The daughter of So You Think came from back in the pack in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic to finish seventh.

“I think the Kembla Grange Classic form usually stands up in an Adrian Knox and she was one of the better runs in a bunched finished,” Lees said.

“She gives the impression the 2000m will be up her alley.

“She’s a genuine each way chance.”

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Lees will launch a three-pronged attack with El Jasor ($26), Age Of Sail ($41) and Fulfilled ($126) in the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m).

“You could make a case for all of them,” Lees said.

“It’s an open race with 20 runners but if I had to pick one it might be El Jasor but he’s got a sticky gate.

“He has got a bit of confidence up in Queensland like Age Of Sail and looking forward to testing them in better company with no weight.

“Fulfilled has been racing with big weights but gets weight relief with blinkers on should suit.”

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Miss Busslinger is an $81 outsider in the Group 3 $250,000 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) but Lees believes she’s going better than the price suggests.

The daughter of Saxon Warrior was doing her best work late in a 1200m event at Wyong last start, finishing third.

“She is going better than her form reads,” Lees said.

“She didn’t come up last preparation and her two runs back this time have been good.

“I think she’s crying out for the blinkers and we’ve put them on in a stakes race so we are expecting a good reaction out of them.”

Originally published as ‘Best 2yo I’ve had’: Trainer Kris Lees pays Rivellino the ultimate compliment ahead of 2025 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Royal Randwck