Big screen shows the moment jockey realised he’d been left behind in the big cup at Ellerslie

Leith Innes on his way back to the barriers on Platinum Invador after the false start was called.A clever piece of quick thinking by jockey Leith Innes saved decisive winner Platinum Invador from falling victim to the shambolic false start in today’s City Of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.

New Year’s Day racegoers were stunned when runners in the Group III feature started pulling up after only a few hundred metres after it was discovered one runner had been left behind, Pinmedown still standing behind the stalls in a horrendous oversight by the starter.

Punters watching the big infield screen at Ellerslie saw a close-up of jockey Cameron Lammas’ horrified reaction as the field was dispatched without him.

And when the runners returned to the barriers and vets started checking every starter to make sure they were fit for a re-run, Platinum Invador started to sweat up very badly.

Innes pulled a masterstroke when he asked for the bright red hood that had kept Platinum Invador settled in his preliminary to be refitted.

“He calmed down straight away,” said Innes of Platinum Invador who was cleared to start while two of the favourites, stablemate Sentimental Miss and Justamaiz, were ruled out because they had run too far. They returned to the birdcage joining Roger That who was unsaddled by rider Jason Waddell without even returning to the start.

Champion jockey James McDonald tells trainer Lisa Latta and two of the owners of Sentimental Miss what happened after being late scratched.In a tense quarter hour before the race was restarted trainers Lisa Latta, David Greene and Antony Fuller met their charges in the birdcage, Latta and two of the owners of Sentimental Miss anxiously listening to jockey James McDonald’s report of the shemozzle and how he didn’t hear any warning siren.

Latta took her seat in the grandstand just in time to watch the rerun, which saw Platinum Invador drop out to equal last at the winning post with a lap to run.

If Latta was worried that the late scratching of pacemaker Justamaiz would wreck the chances of her back runner, she needn’t have, because Innes later reported the pace was hectic and really suited Platinum Invador.

Steward Brady Jones, right, in conflab with Roger That’s trainer Antony Fuller and his strapper.“He’s a push button stayer,” said Innes who started a long, four wide run as far as 800 metres from home.

Watching from the stand Latta admitted she was thinking “I hope I’ve got him fit enough for this” and part-owner Neville McAlister was suspecting Innes had gone too soon.

But when Platinum Invador swept to the lead 350 metres from home he was still full of running and the race was all over, Innes later declaring the result was “never in doubt.”

At the line he had two and three-quarter lengths to spare over Savy Yong Blonk, with a long head to The Good Fight.

Michael McNab brings one of the favourites Justamaiz back to the birdcage after being ruled out.Latta was conflicted in the immediate aftermath, her jubilation at winning the $200,000 staying feature tempered by the fact she had the unhappy owners of Sentimental Miss close by.

“I’ve got mixed emotions,” Latta said as she was hugged and congratulated by Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street and their supporters.

“I thought I could have run the quinella in the race with Sentimental Miss and this is very disappointing for my other owners.”

Stewards adjourned an inquiry into the incident but not before standing down starter Trevor Harrison from his duties for the remaining two races.