Leith Innes will pilot Platinum Invador in Saturday’s $500,000 Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.
Lethal Leith’s back on Invador for Saturday’s Auckland Cup and Lincoln King draws well
By Barry Lichter • 10 March 2021
Top jockey Leith Innes will be reunited with leading chance Platinum Invador in Saturday’s $500,000 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.
And in other good news for Lincoln Farms, this morning’s barrier draw saw both Platinum Invador and Lincoln King draw well for the 3200 metre staying feature.
Platinum Invador will jump from the middle of the field in gate nine and trainer Stephen Marsh’s prayers for a low gate for Lincoln King were answered with slot three.
Innes has not ridden Platinum Invador for 12 months when he finished a brave third in the Auckland Cup after a rocky run and in three other rides on the speedy stayer he won the 2020 City Of Auckland Cup and was pipped a nose in the 2020 Avondale Cup.
Platinum Invador showed he was peaking beautifully for this year’s event when powering home from well back for a close fourth in the Avondale Cup on February 20 after getting into strife under Ryan Elliot turning for home.
Avondale Cup runner-up Sound fared poorly in today’s draw, landing gate 15, with the other two top weights also disadvantaged - In A Twinkling in 16 and 2020 winner Roger That in the outside stall of 17.
Avondale Cup winner Robusto is nicely spotted in six.
Leading jockey Danielle Johnson has confirmed she will ride Lincoln King, who finished less then three lengths behind Robusto in the Avondale Cup after getting well out of his ground.
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Lisa’s comments
Saturday at Trentham
Race 7: Platinum Attack
4.42pm
“He has freshened up really well since his last-start win and I couldn’t be happier with the way he looks. His work has been right up to the mark and he is certainly feeling well in himself. The track was a soft 7 on Wednesday morning and hopefully they don’t get any more rain as I think he will get away with it being in the soft range, but not heavy. Jonathan will look to get cover from the outside draw, and I expect to see him finishing it off very strongly. We will get a line on how good he is if the track isn’t too wet.”