Rain threatens Lord Tavistock's attempt to add an Australian Group One win to his resume before he is retired to Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud in New Zealand.A dual Group One winner in New Zealand, the four-year-old is by Montjeu whose progeny usually handle wet tracks but Lord Tavistock is the exception.He is entered for Saturday's TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, a vital lead-up to the All-Aged Stakes which is scheduled as his swansong two weeks later."The rain needs to go away," Sir

Rain threatens Lord Tavistock's attempt to add an Australian Group One win to his resume before he is retired to Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud in New Zealand.

A dual Group One winner in New Zealand, the four-year-old is by Montjeu whose progeny usually handle wet tracks but Lord Tavistock is the exception.

He is entered for Saturday's TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, a vital lead-up to the All-Aged Stakes which is scheduled as his swansong two weeks later.

"The rain needs to go away," Sir Patrick said.

"He doesn't go on soft ground but he probably needs to run if he is to go on to the All-Aged which is his main Sydney mission.

"He will be racing under his current ownership but I have the final say whether he runs in either race.

"If I don't think it is in his best interests then he will be scratched and retired.

"But it would mean a lot to get an Australian Group One win."

The other concern for Lord Tavistock, who raced as Tavistock in New Zealand, is the right-handed track.

"He has never raced right-handed but he has been working that way and all reports are that he has handled it well," Sir Patrick said.

"All we need now is fine weather Thursday, Friday and Saturday."

Lord Tavistock spent some time with Mick Price in Melbourne as a three-year-old but his best Australian performance came under current trainer Andrew Campbell when he won last month's Group Two Blamey Stakes at Flemington.

Randwick was rated a slow (7) on Wednesday morning with more rain expected.

Melito and Sydney pin-up Hot Danish are another two TJ Smith contestants who do not relish wet tracks.