Invador’s closing cup sectionals outstanding: Leith nobly fesses up about ‘terrible’ ride

The closing sectionals in Saturday’s Auckland Cup underline just how big Platinum Invador’s run for fourth actually was.

On top of an admission by jockey Leith Innes that he stuffed up the ride in Saturday’s $500,000 two miler, were the splits the horse recorded, running the fastest last 800 metres (47.22), 600 metres (35.29), 400 metres (23.56) and 200 metres (12.49) of the race.

But it wasn’t a ride Innes was proud of, his first words on dismounting to trainer Lisa Latta and owners John and Lynne Street and Neville McAlister: “Sorry guys, it was a terrible ride.”

Innes’ job wasn’t helped when Platinum Invador was slow to begin and he couldn’t find a possie, sharing the rear with Sound a round from home.

Innes was in two minds about whether to follow Troy Harris when he started a run on Sound 1000 metres from home, first three, then four wide.

POST MORTEM: Co-owner John Street listens to Leith Innes describe his ride on Platinum Invador in the Auckland Cup.“I should have followed Troy and if the race was run again I would come out. But I thought he’d taken off miles too early and I’d be better to bide my time.”

Innes found himself a clear last 700 metres from home and when he angled out into the centre of the track early in the run home he had an impossible deficit to make up on the leader and subsequent winner Billy Ocean.

While the horse made up many lengths, getting within a head and a neck of placegetters Charles Road and Sound, Innes reported he felt a bit dour.

“But it was a good run, he was making up ground late.”

Trainer Lisa Latta accepted her horse would never have caught Billy Ocean who had a three length lead halfway down the stretch.

“But he should probably have run second. I would like to have seen Leith stay on the rails and find a run through them.”

A round from home and Platinum Invador is last inside Sound.The placing continued Latta’s luckless run in the Auckland Cup after Platinum Invador ran an unlucky third in last year’s cup and Five To Midnight (twice) and King Kamada finished runners-up.

Latta will now give Platinum Invador a freshen-up before laying out a programme for the autumn which could culminate in a trip to Queensland for the Group II A$300,000 Brisbane Cup (2400m) on June 12.

“I don’t think we’ll be going for the Sydney Cup (April 10). They quite often get a wet track over there in April.”

Danielle Johnson brings Lincoln King back after the cup.Marsh frustrated

Lincoln Farms’ second cup runner Lincoln King frustrated trainer Stephen Marsh with his performance for ninth, 10 lengths from the winner.

“It was a bit of a disaster of a race, he just wouldn’t travel again today.

“Danielle (Johnson) put a couple round his arse and he got into a nice enough spot but then slowly they’ve gone round him and pushed him back.

“Then he copped a couple of checks and ended up back near last on the turn.

“His last bit’s been great, he’s hit the line well, but he’s just getting too far out of the race. I’m going to have to slap some head gear on him.”

Marsh said he was confident Lincoln King would keep improving and end up a very good stayer but he needed to get him to travel better so he doesn’t have so much of a job to do in his races.

From the stewards’ room

Ocean Billy (1st): Raced greenly over the final stages.

Charles Road (2nd): Raced wide without cover for most of the race.

Sound (3rd): Slow to begin. Over-raced at the rear in the early to middle stages.

Platinum Invador (4th): Slow to begin.

Daytona Red (5th): Began awkwardly then crowded soon afterwards.

Lincoln King (9th): Hampered near the 800.

Robusto (11th): Held up by the weakening Bluey’s Chance near the 800 and further hampered by the weakening Star Tsar near the 600.

Dance Card (13th): Had to be checked when improving onto the heels of Robusto who was held up behind the weakening Bluey’s Chance near the 800.

In A Twinkling (14th): Hung throughout and not helped by being taken on through the middle stages.

Bluey’s Chance (16th): Slow to begin. Over-raced soon after the start, becoming awkwardly placed on the rail back in the field before shifting outwards jostling with Sound. Allowed to improve forward to sit outside the leader from the 1700.

Star Tsar (17th): Pulled up 124 lengths last and was found to have mild lameness in the left hind leg, grade 2/5.

Platinum Invador ran the fastest sectionals for each of the last four splits in the cup.