A campaign that has tested the patience of connections could quickly turn around if Tavi Time successfully defends his crown in the Group Three Summer Cup at Randwick on Boxing Day.

The gelding has endured a run of misfortune across his past three outings, including striking a heavy surface in The Gong (1600m) and settling too far back from a wide alley in The Ingham (1600m), where he made ground late.

“Things just haven’t been going right for him,” trainer Kris Lees said.

“He was a bit luckless in the Big Dance. The rain came before The Gong, and he stepped slow in The Ingham. He is running off good sectionals but to no avail.”

Tavi Time is one of 11 runners accepted for the Boxing Day feature, which also includes The Ingham runner-up Estadio Mestalla and 2023 ATC Derby hero Major Beel.

Last year, Tavi Time rose from benchmark grade to win the Summer Cup and has since added the Scone Cup (1600m) and finished second in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m), results that have earned him an extra three kilos this time around.

Lees remains upbeat, noting his return to 2000 metres is ideal.

“He goes back to 2000 metres, which he hasn’t been to since last year’s win,” Lees said.

The only horse in the past two decades to win the Summer Cup twice is I’m Imposing, who did so in 2013 and 2014.

Lees also nominated last-start winner Kind Words but opted against accepting. The mare will instead head to either Saturday’s TAB Handicap (2000m) at Randwick or the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford.