LEES DUO TACKLE SUMMER CUP TRIP ON BOXING DAY

Newcastle trainer takes a gamble with Rustic Steel, Tavi Time over more ground

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Trainer Kris Lees has accepted for both Rustic Steel and Tavi Time in the A$250,000 (S$211,000) Group 3 Summer Cup at Randwick on Dec 26, with the option to test both gallopers over 2,000m for the first time in their careers.

Rustic Steel is coming off a last-start fifth in the Group 2 The Ingham (1,600m) at Randwick, while Tavi Time placed in an 1,800m benchmark-88 on the same programme on Dec 14.

Seven-year-old Rustic Steel heads the weights for the Summer Cup on Boxing Day with 59kg given his 107 rating, while Tavi Time (92) is weighted on the minimum with 54kg.

"Both horses have never been out to 2,000 metres, but we've always had an inkling with Rustic Steel that if the right race presented we would give him that chance," said Lees.

"And at this stage we'll accept. He's in okay with 59 kilos."

Lees also had Rustic Steel and Tavi Time entered for the Maroubra Mile - a 1,600m benchmark 100 race - at Randwick two days after the Summer Cup. He had indicated they would make a final call on where to run the pair after acceptances.