Drying track gives longshot veterans their chance to sneak into the Avondale Cup money

Lincoln Farms’ veterans Platinum Invador and Lincoln King might be at outsized odds for Saturday’s $140,000 Avondale Cup but drying conditons at Pukekohe give them a shot at sneaking into the minor money.

Trainers Lisa Latta and Stephen Marsh were understandably reserved about their charges’ chances after Cyclone Gabrielle left the track very heavy.

But with two days of fine weather the conditions this morning had improved to a soft 7 and, with no rain on the radar, both trainers are hoping for a further upgrade.

Latta knows Platinum Invador ($26) has the job ahead of him carrying topweight of 59kg and giving away 5kg to up-and-comers like Aquacade.

But the horse is going better than his last-start 15th would suggest when rider Warren Kennedy was trapped three wide with no cover throughout the Trentham Stakes (2100m).

A better guide was the seven-year-old’s game fifth before that in the QE II Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa when with 58kg he gave away a lot of weight to Dionysus, Self Obsession and Zee Falls, all well in the market again on Saturday.

Latta made the decision to bypass the Wellington Cup and concentrate on the Avondale and Auckland Cups and has been pleased with Platinum Invador’s progress in the month since he last raced.

On Monday she trialled the horse over 1400 metres at Awapuni and was happy with how he closed for third within three lengths of tearaway winner Blue On Black.

“The trial really tidied him up and he had another nice gallop on Thursday morning - Jonathan Riddell (race rider) came in to ride him and he was happy with his work.”

Latta is hoping Platinum Invador’s wide draw of 15 will be a help, not a hindrance, with runners likely to scout wide for the better going.

And she likes the fact he returns to right-handed racing, all his best runs having been that way around, including a win in the City Of Auckland Cup and placings in the Auckland Cup, Avondale Cup and New Zealand Derby.

“There are a couple of nice up-and-comers in the field but I’m hoping we’ll see him back to his best, which would see him very competitive.”

Lincoln King beats Starrybeel in the 2022 Wellington Cup. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Better footing crucial

Better footing is even more crucial for Lincoln King ($51) who, according to Marsh, was ducking and diving in the heavy 10 ground in his last start at Tauranga.

“The track was well out of his range but I thought he did well for fourth and he had a good blow afterwards which would have brought him on nicely.”

Lincoln King, ridden by the inexperienced two-race winner Munna Alam, actually beat only two home. He lost ground at the start when bumped, went off stride rounding the home turn and went to the line under hands and heels after the rider dropped his whip 350 metres out.

Lincoln King ran last of six in his first-up run, also at Tauranga and also in heavy conditions, but over only 1600 metres, well short of his best.

With two conditioning runs under his belt he now moves out to a more suitable 2400 metres and, crucially, drops from 60kg to 56.5kg and gets the experienced Vinnie Colgan.

Lincoln King, the 2022 Wellington Cup winner and 2020 New Zealand Cup runner-up, is being aimed at the $500,000 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Pukekohe on March 11.