Forecasted rain against Platinum Invador but Saturday’s 2300 metre Cup is in his fun zone

Trainer Lisa Latta is hoping the weather doesn’t undo Platinum Invador again when he tilits at Saturday’s $100,000 Manawatu Cup at Trentham.

Latta elected to late scratch the horse from last Saturday’s Waikato Cup when heavy rain saw the track downgraded to heavy.

And, while the wasted trip from Palmerston North to Hamilton would have only brought him on his preparation, Latta can’t afford to miss another lead-up to summer’s big cups.

The going at Trentham this morning was a soft six, after only 32ml of rain in the last seven days.

But the forecast today is not good. By mid-day 5ml had fallen with another 15ml predicted today and at least 4ml more before race start time on Saturday.

Form pundits could be misled into thinking Platinum Invador operates well in heavy ground, with two of his four wins in that state.

But Latta knows the now seven-year-old is far more potent on reasonably good footing and was looking forward to better ground than the heavy 8 and soft 7 he has had to cope with in his two runs this campaign.

Lisa Latta … couldn’t be happier with Platinum Invador.Platinum Invador has still performed well in both his starts, powering home over 1600 metres fresh-up at Hastings after being held up, then finishing less than two lengths behind La Flora Belle in the Wanganui Cup (2040m) after blowing the start.

Platinum Invador carried 60kg that day, giving 7kg to the winner and, with only 59kg on Saturday, meets her 1kg better off.

He also has to give stablemate Charms Star 5.5kg again, a factor which has seen TAB bookies open her a $5 favourite, and tighten her odds in to $4.20 after early support.

Platinum Invador, an easing fourth favourite at $9, also meets a number of in-form lightweights in Saturday’s cup, but Latta is very pleased with her charge.

“I couldn’t be happier with him - his last start brought him on in leaps and bounds. And he had a good gallop this morning on the course proper which he pulled up really well from.

“I expect him to be very competitive on Saturday and this will clean him up nicely for the Queen Elizabeth at Te Rapa on New Years’ Day.”

It has been more than three years since Platinum Invador last raced at Trentham. In three stats on the big, roomy track he has run a fourth on good ground and failed twice in heavy footing, albeit over only 1600 metres, well short of his best.

Saturday’s Group III 2300 metres is in the horse’s fun zone - in eight starts over 2300 metres or 2400 metres he has racked up one win, three seconds, a third and a fourth.