The Newcastle trainer won the inaugural Big Dance with Rustic Steel who, while also a five-year-old at the time, was a lot more exposed than Tavi Time, having won the Coast and the Scone Cup on his way.

Lees said if Tavi Time, a winner of seven of his 14 starts, performs well on Tuesday he’ll continue his campaign towards more rich miles this spring.

“In a perfect world he’d go to the Ingham, or maybe the Gong,” he said.

Last year’s Ingham winner Loch Eagle heads a Lees trio in the $750,000 Little Dance (1600m) with Gunnedah Cup winner Mayfair Spirit and Rogue Bear, who qualified through a second in last year’s Taree Cup.

Loch Eagle hasn’t been in the sparkling form this campaign that he was a year ago, but Lees said if he gets the right run under the big weight he can make his presence felt.

“His Epsom run was disappointing, but the run before in the Cameron you could make a case he should have won it,” he said.

“He’s mixing his form now he’s got a bit older but with the right set up he can be effective.

“He’s got to carry the 62kg so it’s an ask, but he is an Ingham winner and his Randwick form is pretty good.”

Mayfair Spirit is an emergency for the Big Dance and Lees said he’s probably better placed in the Little Dance if he can find his best form.

The gelding has failed to beat one home in his two runs this spring so does need to bounce back.

“He won a Gunnedah Cup, [but] to be fair his form is a little questionable at this level,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity to race for big money and he has a nice draw to put himself in the race.”

Rogue Bear hasn’t raced for two months and Lees said keeping him fresh gave him the best chance to be competitive.

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“We’ve tried to keep him fresh to react well, he’s more a 2000m horse,” he said. “With blinkers back on he could easily dash well.”

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