Lisa due some luck in the Auckland Cup and Invador’s in the zone to deliver on Saturday

The Auckland Cup has not been a lucky race for Lincoln Farms’ trainer Lisa Latta but she is hoping Platinum Invador can get that “monkey off her back” at Ellerslie on Saturday.

In the last six years Latta’s runners in Auckland’s 3200 metre feature race have endured bad trips and lost out in close finishes, none closer than in 2018 when Five To Midnight lost out in a crushingly close photo finish to Ladies First.

Since 2015 Latta has recorded three seconds, with Five To Midnight (twice) and King Kamada, a sixth, fifth and third last year with Platinum Invador.

It doesn’t get any closer than this - Lisa Latta’s Five To Midnight is pipped in the 2018 Auckland Cup.Latta rates Platinum Invador more brilliant than Five To Midnight, who was a dour stayer, and was pleased when he drew nine on Saturday, hoping that will allow him to stay out of trouble this year.

Platinum Invador had to overcome severe buffeting in the race last year and came back to scale missing his off hind plate and with skin off his off foreleg after being shunted out by Sound 800 metres from home.

The siren sounded after the race as rider Leith Innes and owners Neville McAlister and John Street viewed video of the incident, prompted by the fact Sound pipped Platinum Invador a head for the $87,500 runners-up purse.

But while Innes believed Platinum Invador was affected by the heavy contact, and being laid on for the next 300 metres, he advised not to proceed with a protest.

Leith Innes examines the stewards’ film of the Auckland Cup before deciding not to protest last year.The bump did not appear on the film to be as bad as it actually was and Innes believed they would not win a protest as Sound’s movement was also triggered by The Good Fight moving out inside him. It also happened a long way from home.

“I was enjoying a beautiful run before that, everything was going to plan, but then that horse came out on me and annoyed me for 300 metres,” Innes said at the time.

The shunt saw Platinum Invador forced to make his run from the 800 metres first four then five wide on the turn.

And while he all but ranged alongside leader Roger That soon after straightening, Innes’ belief the leader would come back to him never eventuated and when Platinum Invador’s run came to an end 200 metres out, and he started laying in, he lost second to Sound close to home.

Platinum Invador has come to the end of his run and is just nutted for second in last year’s cup.

Wellington’s Neville McAlister, who bought Platinum Invador for just $25,000 as a yearling and races him with Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, says he has no reservations about the horse getting 3200 metres.

“He was beaten only a length by the winner (Roger That) last year, was only a head behind Sound, and they went a fast time (3:19.96).”

A delve into the Redwood gelding’s pedigree shows his second and third dams raced in Italy and produced winners of races over 2400 metres and 3500 metres.

Saturday will be the first time Innes has been on Platinum Invador since last year’s Auckland Cup and Latta says from gate nine he should be able to plot a winning path.

“He won’t be too handy but it will give Leith the option of not being on the fence and to be able to get going when he feels it’s time.”

Platinum Invador lost his winning chance in the Avondale Cup last time when rider Ryan Elliot found trouble turning for home, the horse staging a fine recovery for an unlucky fourth, which Latta described as “a great run”.

Latta says she couldn’t be happier with the horse’s preparation.

“His work on Tuesday morning was great. He’s been swimming in the afternoons too so has been doing a good bit of work preparing for this.”

If Platinum Invador can bag the winner’s purse of $300,000, it would take his career earnings to $707,000 from just 30 starts.