Our New Year spoil - Platinum Invador at a juicy $12 for the City Of Auckland Cup

Even trainer Lisa Latta admits she’s surprised that bookies have Platinum Invador so long in the odds for Wednesday’s $200,000 City Of Auckland Cup.

When the final field market opened, Platinum Invador was only seventh equal favourite at $11, with Latta’s other runner Sentimental Miss third equal fancy at $7 with crack jockey James McDonald on board the Oaks winner.

And in the last 24 hours Platinum Invador has actually eased, now quoted at $12 for the 2400 metre feature, despite the fact that the last time the horse galloped over that trip at Ellerslie he was a very unlucky and fast-closing third in the New Zealand Derby.

Latta is delighted with the way Platinum Invador has come along this preparation and believes he is beautifully primed to take a big slice of the prizemoney.

“I couldn’t be happier with him. He still had a bit of improvement in him when he ran in the Manawatu Cup and he galloped really well on Saturday morning when Jonathan Riddell rode him.”

Platinum Invador was putting in some telling late strides when second in the Manawatu Cup (2300m) on December 21, winner Concert Hall pinching a break on him in the straight.

And while the Cambridge mare had three and a quarter lengths to spare at the line, there’s a 2kg weight swing in favour of Platinum Invador on Wednesday over the Auckland Cup second favourite.

Platinum Invador hinted a win was close in his previous start as well when he ran third to Sentimental Miss in the Wanganui Cup (2040m) closing in the fastest last 600 metres of 34.64.

Latta is relaxed over track conditions on Wednesday, saying Platinum Invador will handle it whether it’s good or dead.

After 20 mm of overnight irrigation, the Ellerslie surface was rated a dead 5 this morning, but is expected to come right back with almost no rain forecast.

“We will obviously go back from our wide draw and Leith Innes is a very good rider around Ellerslie so I’m sure he will pick a path through them.

“This is a wide open race but he gets in on the minimum and I am looking forward to it.”

Leith Innes says Platinum Road only does what he has to so blinkers go back on for Wednesday. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Derby recce for Platinum Road

Derby aspirations for Platinum Road will be tested in the opening race when the Declaration Of War gelding has his first go at Ellerslie, and his first attempt right-handed for that matter.

“He’s also taking on the older horses so he faces a few obstacles but it will give us a good line on him,” says Latta.

“It’s a good time to try him out so we’re not leaving it ’til the last few weeks in February when its usually hot.”

Latta says Platinum Road has come through his Trentham win very well when he wore down the leaders late over 1600 metres.

“I have put blinkers back on him as Leith Innes said at Wellington he only does as much as he has to.”

Latta expects that that cruisy, laid back attitude to stand the horse in good stead on his first trip north when he will encounter a lot of new experiences.

She says she is excited to see what Platinum Road can do in his first start over a middle distance, staying his obvious forte.

With Innes committed to Gravitelle for Lance Noble, Riddell, who has ridden the horse three times previously, takes the mount.