Trainer Kris Lees’ decision to scratch Slivovitz from Randwick in favour of the Taree Cup has paid off with the six-year-old winning Sunday’s country feature.

The track at Taree was just in the heavy range while Randwick was downgraded during Saturday to a 10, the heaviest possible on the numbered scale.

Both races were over 2000 metres and Slivovitz came with a late run under Andrew Gibbons to win the $60,000 Cup from Lucky Liaison and Samsili.

Gibbons negotiated his way across from a wide alley and had Slivovitz poised to strike in the straight.

“I wanted to follow either Sam Clenton (Lucky Liaison) or Robbie Thompson (Samsili),” Gibbons told Sky Racing.

“I couldn’t believe it at the half-mile (800m) when I looked back at Robbie and he had Sam inside him.

“They did all the donkey work and I just followed them.”

Gibbons praised Lees for the patience he had shown with six-year-old Slivovitz, the winner of six races from just 19 starts.

“He’s had a lot of troubles, this horse,” Gibbons said.

“He (Lees) thought his best might have been a couple of preps ago but today he’s run outstanding. It’s a super training effort.”

Gibbons said although Slivovitz had had his physical issues, mentally he was perfect.

“He’s such a gentleman and he just wants to be a racehorse,” he said.

Taree held the only meeting in NSW on Sunday with Nowra called off due to the wet.

Saturday’s Kembla Grange meeting was also a victim of the weather while Lismore on Monday is also in doubt.