Platinum Invador rekindles potent combo of Streets and McAlister with big cup win

Lincoln Farms boss John Street paid tribute to the pedigree skills of his racing partner Neville McAlister after Platinum Invador ran away with today’s $200,000 City Of Auckland Cup.

The four-year-old is shaping up as the best stayer Street has raced in his 27 years in the game, and is now an $18 chance for the $500,000 Auckland Cup (3200m) in March.

John Street gives the acceptance speech with co-owner Neville McAlister holding the cup.But in giving his acceptance speech after Platinum Invador romped home by two and three-quarter lengths at Ellerslie, Street confessed his part in the partnership was solely paying half the bills.

“Neville does all the research in buying our gallopers and it’s worked very well for us over the years.”

Platinum Invador is the latest in a long list of successful horses which McAlister has raced with the Streets since 2006 - and he’s one of the cheapest.

McAlister discovered the Redwood colt in New Zealand Bloodstock’s third tier Festival yearling catalogue at Karaka in 2017 and liked him so much on pedigree and type that he went into sale day “with an unlimited budget.”

Trainer Lisa Latta is interviewed by Trackside’s Aidan Rodley.“We were buying him no matter what the cost,” said McAlister. “He was my number one choice from all three books that year.”

McAlister was stunned when he was able to buy the colt for just $25,000.

“He probably flew under the radar a bit. The dam’s first foal had placed numerous times in Hong Kong and her second foal won in Singapore leading up to the sale.

“He was from Redwood’s second crop and was a beautiful dark colour like the sire himself.”

McAlister doesn’t hesitate in labelling Platinum Invador the best stayer of the 40-odd horses he’s raced with Lincoln Farms, their other topliners included Platinum Toulouse, Platinum Princess, Platinum Witness, Platinum Command and Platinum Kingdom.

Lynne Street shares a joke with trainer Lisa Latta on the victory dais.“We’ve had a bit of a lean trot lately but for a while there we were flying and regularly winning stakes races.”

In Platinum Invador, however, trainer Lisa Latta has high hopes of winning a top shelf race and she has her sights set firmly on the $500,000 Auckland Cup on March 7, a race which has narrowly escaped her three times, with King Kamada and twice with Five To Midnight.

McAlister has been convinced since Platinum Invador ran an unlucky third in the New Zealand Derby last March that he is a serious stayer.

While he failed to convert that promise on a subsequent trip to Australia, McAlister says he suspects the horse was simply tired after three races in quick succession and two long float trips leading up to the derby.

“Everything we’re doing this prep is to prepare him for the Auckland Cup and he showed today that he’s a lot better on a good track.

Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton in high spirits in the birdcage.“He springs off the ground on a good 3 but on a slow 7 he hasn’t got the same pickup, he was only grinding home in the Manawatu Cup, which is uncharacteristic of the Redwoods.”

The next step along the road will be the $100,000 Karaka Stayers’ Cup (2200m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night, January 25, but the camp doesn’t have to worry about qualifying for the Auckland Cup as Platinum Invador is now guaranteed a start.

While Street put winning the City Of Auckland Cup right up there with his pacer Sir Lincoln’s triumph in the 2012 Auckland Trotting Cup, Platinum Invador would eclipse that feat should he win the Auckland Cup in March.