Invador at $101 for the Melbourne Cup - ‘but all the stars will need to align’ to get there
By Barry Lichter • 9 September 2020
Given New Zealand is lucky to get even one horse into the Melbourne Cup these days, co-owner Neville McAlister is playing it very low key with Platinum Invador.
The talented stayer made a satisfactory start to a potential cups campaign when sixth of eight over 1600 metres at Moonee Valley last Saturday, a distance well short of his best.
McAlister and his partner Lincoln Farms know the chances are slim that the horse will even make the first Tuesday in November, the enormity of the task even more evident when the weights were released this week.
With 53kg, Platinum Invador is rated a $101 chance by the TAB in the opening market, a long way behind last year’s fifth placegetter Surprise Baby who is the $9 favourite.
Fellow Kiwis Australian Derby winner Quick Thinker and The Chosen One, 17th in the cup last year, are both on 53.5kg and rated $51 chances for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.
Other Kiwi-trained aspirants include Wexford’s Sir Charles Road (51kg, $151) who earned A$150,000 for running seventh in 2018, and Bill Thurlow’s former Auckland Cup winner Glory Days (51kg, $201).
Miss Sentimental, who won the NZ Oaks as Sentimental Miss from Lisa Latta’s stable, but is now with Chris Waller, is a $201 chance with 51.5kg and the former Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Rondinella, who has joined the stable of John O’Shea, has 50kg and is at $101.
McAlister says all the stars will need to align for Platinum Invador to make the cup, even though he showed his staying potential when winning the City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) and running third in the Auckland Cup (3200m).
“We know the chances are small that he’ll get in the field and we won’t know for a few weeks yet even if he’s going well enough to head in that direction.”
Platinum Invador did exactly what new trainer Peter Moody said he would last weekend, beating a couple of stragglers home, but with a clear top weight of 62kg, fresh-up over only 1600 metres, getting within seven lengths of winner Junipal was all you could expect of him.
“They went 1:36 and he kept grinding away. He was starting to do his best work after the line.”
McAlister is hoping Platinum Invador shows a little more when stepped up to a middle distance at his next start, most likely in the $200,000 JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley on September 25.
“But it won’t be until he gets up to a mile and a half (2400 metres) that he’ll be most competitive. And I’d like to see him eventually get a go on a roomy track - Moonee Valley’s not his ideal track.
“Hopefully by mid-October he’ll be hitting his straps.”
- Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare goes up 5kg to 57kg.
- Topweight with 58.5kg is 2019 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck, trained by Aidan O’Brien.
More news in Gallops
Attack working ‘phenomenal’ but history paints outside gate in Telegraph a killer
Will the Otaki track dry enough before Sunday for exciting sprinter Platinum Attack?
Mereana’s game plan for Platinum Tyche works a treat - but stipes sour the moment
Weather gods will decide Platinum Attack’s fate in the Stewards but it’s looking brighter
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Lisa’s comments
Saturday at Trentham
Race 2: Platinum Tyche
1.05pm
“This is a big drop-back in class for her as her last two races have been very strong rating 75s. The track at Otaki was particularly wet and she just didn’t handle it. She has come through that run in fantastic order and is very bright and well. She shouldn’t be too far off the leaders from the good draw and I expect her to bounce back to form providing we get a decent track.”
Race 8: Platinum Attack
4.43pm
“He drew the outside barrier in this race last year and has been dealt the same card again. He couldn’t be looking any better though and his work has been phenomenal. He is right where he needs to be to win a race like this. We are going to need some luck from the draw but Craig Grylls knows him well now and I thought that he is certainly one of the better horses in the race. If he gets clear air at the right time then he will finish with a big run.”