Two more sleeps until we see what Platinum Invador’s really made of in the Auckland Cup

Every step Platinum Invador has taken since he came back into work eight months ago has been aimed at the $500,000 Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.

Planning for the richest saying race in the country began even before that, soon after the horse blazed home for an unlucky third in the New Zealand Derby last March.

And on Saturday trainer Lisa Latta believes she will present the horse at his absolute peak for a race which has proved so elusive for her in recent years.

In 2015 she watched as King Kamada led the cup field 100 metres from home only to be swamped late into second by Rock Diva.

In 2018 Five To Midnight looked to have the cup won, but lost out in a bobbing finish to Ladies First by the barest margin you’ll ever see.

And last year Five To Midnight overcame an interrupted trip, finishing bravely for second, two lengths behind Glory Days.

This time she has Platinum Invador whose terrific staying efforts in the City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) and Avondale Cup (2400m) have cemented him the clear $3.50 favourite.

Oh so close in 2018 with Five To Midnight.Platinum Invador tore the City Of Auckland Cup field to shreds with a brilliant turn of foot on New Years Day, rider Leith Innes easing him down with a two and three quarter length margin.

And, carrying 59kg, he was unlucky not to catch Polzeath at Ellerslie on February 15, Innes held up on the fence and having to barge his way out, the photo finish going against him by a nose.

Under the set weights and conditions scale of the Auckland Cup, he drops to only 56kg on Saturday, just half a kilo more than he carried to win the City Of Auckland Cup.

Cracking final gallop

The final two pieces of the jigsaw fell into place nicely yesterday when he galloped in his best style at Awapuni and shortly afterwards drew beautifully in six.

Lisa Latta, with Platinum Invador’s part-owner Neville McAlister, left, after winning the City Of Auckland Cup.“I was rapt with the way he worked,” says Latta. “He has taken the next step forward as we hoped and I feel we have him spot on.

“And that great barrier means Leith should be able to get a nice economical run.”

Latta has her fingers crossed that her luck lasts for two more days - hoping Platinum Invador travels safely north early tomorrow morning and the weather forecasters have got it right predicting no rain before raceday.

A big cup win on Saturday would be a welcome boost for Latta who says she is going through a pretty lean patch, her 21 winners for the season well down on recent years.

Latta’s purple and brown colours have become feared throughout the country since she became the first solo woman to claim the trainers’ premiership in 2013-14 with 87 winners and she has been consistently in the top 10 since.

In Platinum Invador she says she has one of those rare stayers who can relax in the running and reel in their rivals with a terrific turn of foot.

That’s exactly the kind of animal part-owner Neville McAlister was hoping for when he went to Karaka in 2017 with an “unlimited budget” to buy the horse. Pedigree buff McAlister found his pick of the entire sale in New Zealand Bloodstock’s third tier Festival catalogue and was delighted to have to spend only $25,000 to buy him.

McAlister has no hesitation in now labelling Platinum Invador as the best stayer he has raced with Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street and he heard what he wanted when Innes jumped off the horse after the Avondale Cup and gleefully declared: “He’s spot on.”

The Redwood gelding, the only four-year-old in the field, has yet to tackle 3200 metres but everything about him suggests he will relish the trip.

3200m form

Only five horses in the field have won over 3200 metres - Azuro (three times), Gorbachev, Sound, Dee And Gee and Soleseifei.

Performances of those who have tackled 3200 metres follow:

Azuro has won three times over 3200 metres in the last nine months.Azuro

This former French stayer is the first horse Cairon Maher and David Eustace have campaigned in New Zealand. Since arriving in Australia he has won four races, three of them over 3200 metres in the Listed Sandown Cup, Listed Queensland Cup and Stayers Cup at Rosehill.

Badly drawn in 16 he can be expected to be doing his best work at the finish.

Gorbachev

Bryce Newman’s six-year-old carried 53kg when he won the 2019 Wellington Cup by a nose and he also ran third to Dee And Gee in the New Zealand Cup last November. It’s nearly three years since he made his sole trip to Ellerslie when down the track in the Valachi Downs Championship.

Felaar

Felaar ran fifth to Dee And Gee in last November’s New Zealand Cup and third to Bizzwinkle at Riccarton the previous year. He was noticed making up good ground late when a close sixth in the Avondale Cup.

Sound, in the purple colours, has been racing at the highest level since being imported to Australia from Germany.Sound

Racing in Germany as Sound Check, he built up a consistently good record on slow tracks, winning a Group II race over 3200 metres in May, 2018. Since arriving in Australia he has failed four times at 3200 metres, twice in the Melbourne Cup.

His best effort in Australia was fourth in the Tancred (2400m) nearly a year ago in heavy going and his trainers’ prayers for rain look like going unanswered.

The Good Fight

Shaune Ritchie’s talented five-year-old looked unlucky not to win the Wellington Cup at his last start, late clear 200 metres out and powering home for second to Soleseifei.

Excalibur

Excalibur has run seventh and 10th in the last two Wellington Cups.

King Of The Dance

The southerner has had two cracks at two miles, running eighth in January’s Wellington Cup and seventh in Dee And Gee’s New Zealand Cup.

Dragon Storm

In his sole attempt, the Shocking five-year-old was held up when five lengths fifth to Soleseifei in January’s Wellington Cup.

Dee And Gee scores in last November’s New Zealand Cup.Dee And Gee

The six-year-old mare has won one of her five tilts at 3200 metres, scoring in last November’s New Zealand Cup. She was badly hampered and suffered abrasions to both front legs when 13th in January’s Wellington Cup, ran fourth in last year’s Auckland Cup, was beaten a nose by Gorbachev in the 2019 Wellington Cup and ran 10th in the 2018 New Zealand Cup.

Soleseifei

The Shocking mare won her only try at 3200 metres two starts back when pipping The Good Fight in the Wellington Cup. She was finishing strongly in tight quarters in the Avondale Cup in her first look at the undulating Ellerslie course.

Etah James

Etah James finished fourth to Azuro in the Listed Sandown Cup last November and ran ninth in the Tatts Cup (3000m) at Eagle Farm last June. She gets in best at the weights on the minimum of 53.5kg, dropping 5.5kg on the weight she carried to a close third in the Avondale Cup.