Bog track the undoing of Platinum Invador and now his jockey has jumped off

Co-owner Neville McAlister is hoping the weather clears this week after a bog track claimed Platinum Invador in Saturday’s A$200,000 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill.

McAlister and partners John and Lynne Street weren’t the only ones thinking their horse was going to be right in the finish when he ranged right up to the leaders 400 metres from home.

The man in the saddle, top jockey Blake Shinn, told McAlister he was really fancying his chances turning for home but the horse “gave him nothing’’ up the straight and beat only one home.

“He thought it was the track conditions that beat him.

“It was just a bog, like a winter heavy, and he’s never run on a track like that before.

“Parramatta had 35ml of rain just that morning, according to the news.’’

McAlister points to the very slow time winner Angel Of Truth ran for the 2000 metres, 2:08.91, and compares it with the time Platinum Invador clocked in one of his recent Otaki wins over 100 metres further, 2:09.34.

“There was a lot of kickback and I noticed a number of horses in the tie-up stalls coughing after their races.’’

Neville McAlister … on the hunt for new jockey.McAlister says he’s confident nothing was amiss with Platinum Invador who was bright after the race and recovered quickly.

“We’ll get him scoped and take bloods just to make sure but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with him.’’

McAlister is now on the hunt for a replacement rider for Saturday’s A$2 million Australian Derby as top Sydney jockey Blake Shinn has jumped off the horse, as he indicated he might do when first engaged by McAlister.

“We might ride him a bit quieter next week too.’’

It was noticeable early in Saturday’s Tulloch Stakes that Shinn was keeping Platinum Invador just in behind the leaders, no doubt riding to the early on pace and on rails bias.

Platinum Invador eventually drifted back to be third last in the nine horse field, but previous experience has shown he is much better when not bustled and left to his own devices immediately on jumping.