A long rehabilitation process and a wise weekend decision by trainer Kris Lees led to promising stayer Slivovitz winning the $60,000 XXXX Gold Taree Cup on Sunday.

A great ride from Andrew Gibbons saw Slivovitz come from third last early to give both trainer and jockey their first wins in the Taree Cup.

Lees now plans to run Slivovitz, owned by renowned winery and yacht owner Bob Oatley of Wild Oats fame, at Randwick in two weeks as a test for a start in the Newcastle Cup on September 18.

Lees and Oatley were at loggerheads before the weekend debating where Slivovitz should start as he was an acceptor for a 2000m race at Randwick on Saturday as well as the Taree Cup.

Oatley favoured Randwick but Lees preferred the Taree Cup and won out as he suspected the Taree track would be in better condition than the city course.

Taree was rated a slow right up to the start of Sunday’s meeting but was downgraded to a heavy 8 after a heavy shower hit the course early on Sunday afternoon.

It made no difference to Slivovitz as he sustained a long run from the rear of the field in a fast run race to collar the favourite Lucky Liaison in the last 50 metres for a strong three quarter length win that points to him be suited when he steps up to 2400m.

Slivovitz bowed a tendon 16 months ago and the injury was treated with a stem cell transplant.

“He had a lot of time off and it has been a 12 month process to get him to where he is today,” Lees said.

“He is a big horse and I told Andrew to let him find his feet and give him room to gallop. Andrew did exactly as I asked him.

“Training this horse is a challenge. He pulls hard on the track and spends a lot of time on the treadmill.”

Lucky Liaison’s Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan also scratched her horse from Randwick on Saturday to target the Taree Cup.

She said she was happy with his game effort to finish second and would now aim Lucky Liaison at the $150,000 Carlton Mid Wyong Cup (2100m) on September 5.

Philip Minter, the trainer of third placed Samsili, said his horse was likely to go to the Bill Turner Memorial (2300m) at Newcastle on September 6.