Leith Innes will pilot Platinum Invador in Saturday’s $500,000 Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.
Lethal Leith’s back on Invador for Saturday’s Auckland Cup and Lincoln King draws well
By Barry Lichter • 10 March 2021
Top jockey Leith Innes will be reunited with leading chance Platinum Invador in Saturday’s $500,000 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.
And in other good news for Lincoln Farms, this morning’s barrier draw saw both Platinum Invador and Lincoln King draw well for the 3200 metre staying feature.
Platinum Invador will jump from the middle of the field in gate nine and trainer Stephen Marsh’s prayers for a low gate for Lincoln King were answered with slot three.
Innes has not ridden Platinum Invador for 12 months when he finished a brave third in the Auckland Cup after a rocky run and in three other rides on the speedy stayer he won the 2020 City Of Auckland Cup and was pipped a nose in the 2020 Avondale Cup.
Platinum Invador showed he was peaking beautifully for this year’s event when powering home from well back for a close fourth in the Avondale Cup on February 20 after getting into strife under Ryan Elliot turning for home.
Avondale Cup runner-up Sound fared poorly in today’s draw, landing gate 15, with the other two top weights also disadvantaged - In A Twinkling in 16 and 2020 winner Roger That in the outside stall of 17.
Avondale Cup winner Robusto is nicely spotted in six.
Leading jockey Danielle Johnson has confirmed she will ride Lincoln King, who finished less then three lengths behind Robusto in the Avondale Cup after getting well out of his ground.
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Lisa’s comments
Wednesday at Woodville
Race 10: Lincoln Towers
4.37pm
“I’m hoping the rain stays away as it’s not an overly strong field and we have Jonathan Riddell back on. We will look to get a bit of cover and see if he can finish it off. His work has been really good, and I could not be happier with him. He looks fantastic and is a really happy horse. The changes we have made to him and his routine have made a huge difference so hopefully he can reflect this on raceday as he is at the stage where he needs to show something.”