Platinum Invador flies late but Moody keeping everyone grounded on Melbourne Cup chances

Platinum Invador’s late closing third in Saturday’s Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield was certainly encouraging but trainer Peter Moody warned connections immediately afterwards not to get too excited about it.

The Kiwi stayer, owned by Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms, was the rank outsider in the race but came from last and overcame an interrupted passage in the run home to miss second by a bob of the head.

But Moody kept the camp well grounded when he told McAlister that, while the performance was a step in the right direction, his opposition was a long way from the topliners he would meet if they decided to progress towards next month’s A$7.75 million Melbourne Cup.

“They were only B and C graders,” McAlister said today.

“But the promising thing was even though there was no pace in the race he still managed to make up so much ground.”

Winner Chapada clocked a sedate 2:30.57 for the 2400 metres, nearly three seconds slower than Platinum Invador ran when winning the City Of Auckland Cup on January 1.

Platinum Invador banked A$27,000 for his placing but was unlucky not to run at least second and double that when held up in the run home.

When jockey Jye McNeil angled off the rail turning for home he was confronted by a wall of horses and did well to pierce through a gap 100 metres from home getting within 1.35 lengths of the winner.

“It was very encouraging and hopefully he can build on that next time,” McAlister said.

“The plan before yesterday was to tackle the Geelong Cup and Hotham and I can’t see that changing.”

The A$400,000 Geelong Cup (2400m) is run on Wednesday week, October 21, while the A$200,000 Hotham (2500m), which carries an exemption from the Melbourne Cup ballot, is at Flemington 10 days later.

“Normally there are two or three imports in the Geelong Cup and that will give us a better idea of where we sit.

Peter Moody … encouraging run.“It will be nice to stay on those big roomy tracks where he can run home. Moonee Valley (where he had his first two tune-up runs) is too tight.

“But the track I really want to get him on is Flemington and the Hotham could be our only chance to race there during the carnival.”

The other immediate Melbourne Cup lead-up guide is the A$400,000 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on October 28.

“If he won the Geelong Cup we might decide to have a throw at the stumps and go in the Melbourne Cup but if we can’t win at Geelong there’s no point in taking on the topliners.”

McAlister points to yesterday’s beaten rival The Chosen One who won the Herbert Power last year but could run only 17th in the Melbourne Cup.

“It costs a lot of money to pay up for the Melbourne Cup and even if he made the field we wouldn’t run just for the sake of going round when we can line up a week later and race for massive money.”

With country cups at Ballarat (November 21) and Pakenham (December 5) also worth A$300,000 McAlister says there are plenty of options for the horse.

Platinum Invador, who is at odds of $101, sits at 36th on the entry order for the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field with 23 days to go.

Second acceptances for the cup close on Tuesday.