Racing third up from a break, the Kris Lees trained New Zealand bred Tavistock gelding Tavi Time ran away with Friday’s $200,000 Listed Darley Scone Cup (1600m), his first race win since recording victory in the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) last campaign.
From barrier one, jockey Jay Ford took Tavi Time forward where he settled three back on the rail with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Major Beel (Savabeel) coming across the field to lead after jumping from barrier 10 in the 14-horse field.
As Major Beel carted the field into the home straight, the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Mighty Ulysses (Ulysses) darted back to towards the inside to make his run before Tavi Time charged past the leader to put the race result beyond doubt.
Working home in what was a pleasing effort for connections, Straight Acer (Headwater) finished a length and three quarters off the winner in second, having just his third start for new trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Racing on the outside of Tavi Time in the run, the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou trained Grebeni (Ocean Park) was another to work home well, finishing in third just ahead of Mighty Ulysses who finished in fourth.
Interestingly, the first four home all came through a last start run in the Gr3 Hawkesbury Cup (1600m), suggesting the winner of the race Punch Lane (So You Think) should be followed when he next steps out.
Off the back of winning his last four highlighted by last Saturday’s $500,000 The Coast at Gosford, the Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich trained Know Thyself (The Autumn Sun) started the race favourite but was found wanting in the run, finishing more than four lengths from the winner.
Bred and sold by Pencarrow Stud, Tavi Time was initially sold as a yearling for $60,000 as part of the New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Sale to Kiltannon Stables before he was later sold for $130,000 at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale where he was purchased by part-owner Adrian Pazman.
By Cambridge Stud’s late sire Tavistock, the sire of 12 individual Group 1 winners, the 5yo Tavi Time is out of Group 1 Telegraph Handicap winner Guiseppina (Johar) from the family of fellow Group 1 winners The Pooka (Tobougg), Gingernuts (Iffraaj) and Rubiscent (Rubiton).
