Barnstorming late charge to win trial signals good times ahead for Platinum Invador

Platinum Invador showed he had come back in great heart with a barnstorming late charge to win at today’s Foxton trials.

And everything the four-year-old does from here on in, says part-owner Neville McAlister, will be aimed at getting him to the post in the best possible condition for the $500,000 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on March 7.

Platinum Invador faced only a mediocre field of four rivals in today’s 1200 metre catchweight heat but really unwound in the run home to reel in tearaway leader Trending who appeared to have an unassailable six length lead turning for home.

Platinum Invador got up right on the line to just nose out the Bryce Newman trained seven-year-old but rider Robbie Hannam had already started pumping the brakes on last season’s New Zealand Derby placegetter.

And while McAlister isn’t getting too carried away with the showing, given the opposition, he likes what he sees in the early stages of the horse’s preparation.

“There wasn’t much in the heat - Trending scored three midweek wins earlier in the year - but he’s on the right track and he’s still carrying a bit of condition.

“There’s not a lot around for him but we’ll look for a rating 82 race for him now.

“There’s a mile at Hastings on October 5 but that might be a bit too rich first-up and it’s a front-runner’s track, so we might be better to go to Hawera a week later for a 1400 metre race.”

And while the Redwood gelding’s forte is over ground, McAlister believes he would still be competitive against the right field at a shorter trip.

“But every road will lead to the Auckland Cup in March. That’s the richest race which all the good ones focus on and he’s up to it. We’ll stay away from the Wellington Cup which comes a bit early in January.

“While he’s yet to go past 2400 metres he showed with the way he ran home in the derby that he can stay.”

Platinum Invador charges out of the pack to chase after Crown Prosecutor and In A Twinkling in the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Platinum Invador’s huge and unlucky late charge for third behind Crown Prosecutor and In A Twinkling in the New Zealand Derby painted a big target on his back for bloodstock agents, whose outsized bids McAlister and co-owners John and Lynne Street knocked back.

“The offers were pretty tempting but we think he’s pretty good.”

McAlister says you wait all your life for the really good ones and if Platinum Invador had a chance of getting to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup as a five-year-old, “it’s what we dream of doing.”

McAlister cites the case of Waverley’s Bill Thurlow now campaigning Glory Days in Melbourne after her Auckland Cup win in March.

McAlister has put behind him the disastrous Sydney campaign by Platinum Invador in late March - early April when the horse’s riders reported he didn’t handle the heavy tracks in the Tulloch Stakes and ATC Derby.

While the trip came at the end of a long campaign, when Platinum Invador went from breaking maidens in December to turning in the run of the race in the country’s biggest three-year-old classic in March, McAlister says its impossible to really know why he failed in Australia.

“Maybe it was the three runs in two weeks leading up to the derby, but he had a spell straight after that. In hindsight it might have been more sensible going to Brisbane.”

Regardless, Platinum Invador was Lincoln Farms’ best performer of the 2018-19 season, bankrolling $121,135, and he has the potential to win far more this campaign.

In other trials today:

Lincoln Raider parading with Tim Johnson up before his trial.Lincoln Raider beat only one home in an eight-horse open heat over 1000 metres.

Lincoln Raider went back to second last on jumping and, while he got closer in the home straight, he still did not fire.

Trainer Lisa Latta is hoping it was just the chopping-out ground that tripped him.

“We did have to back off him and swim him for 10 days after he knocked his splint bone but I will put today’s run down to the track.

“I trotted him up on getting home and he looked sound but I will get Tim (vet Tim Pearce) in just in case we are missing something.

“If nothing is amiss I will run him again at the Levin jumpouts next Wednesday.”

Benny Lincoln pictured before his encouraging run today.Jimmy Choux three-year-old Benny Lincoln ran fourth in a seven-horse maiden heat over 850 metres.

Benny Lincoln jumped well and sat three wide on the speed, led when brought wide into the straight, and battled on well for fourth, never flinching according to rider Robbie Hannam. Latta described the effort as very encouraging as the gelding is still carrying a lot of condition and has a lot of improvement in him.

He will trial again at Otaki on October 1.