‘Rufus’ draws perfectly in the Tulloch and Matt says he’s settling in nicely in Sydney

Co-owner Neville McAlister rejoiced when he found out Platinum Invador had drawn three in Saturday’s A$200,000 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill.

“He should get every chance from there to show if he is up to this class,’’ said McAlister of the New Zealand Derby placegetter.

Platinum Invador will face only nine rivals in the final lead-up to Saturday week’s A$2 million Australian Derby after eight of the original entires did not pay up, including Victoria Derby winner Extra Brut.

And, ironically, it looks like fellow Kiwis Madison County and In A Twinkling will be two of his toughest opponents, with Tasmanian Derby winner Cossetot best of the locals.

McAlister was delighted to hear from Platinum Invador’s travelling companion Matt Levalle that ‘Rufus’ arrived safely at Peter Robl’s Randwick stable last night and has been eating and drinking.

The horse, whom he races with Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, left only half a dipper of feed and his temperature was normal.

“The horse worked this morning and was apparently a bit on the toe, with all the other horses on the track, but Matt was very happy with him.’’

The good barrier draw eliminated McAlister’s main worry that rider Blake Shinn might be stuck out wide and forced to go right back to the tail of the field.

“From three he can hopefully possie up in midfield, or not far off it. We don’t want to change his pattern of racing, but it will be easier for him not having to come from last.

“You don’t see many come from the back at Rosehill, they win off the front a lot.

“But at least, with only nine rivals, even if he is well back he shouldn’t be more than five or six lengths off them.’’

Platinum Invador has winning form in wet ground and over middle distances.Even though Platinum Invador has shown he can handle wet ground, McAlister says he doesn’t want to see the track too bad on Saturday.

“They’ve had only 3ml or 4ml since last Saturday, when the track was a heavy 8, but they’re supposed to get 20ml overnight on Friday.

“But their heavy 8 is not like the heavy we know, it’s more like our slow 7 - they were still running 1:13 for 1200 metres last week.

“He’ll whack through heavy ground but he can’t fly home on a holding track.’’

McAlister is pleased Platinum Invador has the chance to put his toe in the water on Saturday to see how competitive he is, and also that the horse is stabled at Randwick, where next week’s derby is run.

When he campaign his last star galloper Platinum Kingdom there in 2013, he went straight into a Listed $100,000 race and found the tunnels and birdcage parade a bit overwhelming.

Platinum Kingdom, a naturally more spirited horse, won anyway “but he was fair wound up by it all.’’

Platinum Invador has the advantage of being proven in wet ground and over distance, two ticks which not many of his rivals can boast.

• Madison County … top rated Kiwi three-year-old having his first start over ground on Saturday.Madison County won the 2000 Guineas on a slow 8 track at Riccarton. He has yet to be tried over further than 1600 metres but caught the eye with a late closing fourth in the Randwick Guineas. He had a hiccup last week when late scratched from the Rosehill Guineas after taking skin off a hip en route to the track.
• In A Twinkling’s best two performances this season were his last two, both on good tracks when second in the New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Avondale Guineas (2000m). He was beaten in rain-affected ground in the Karaka Classic (when he lost a shoe) and also failed last December in the Uncle Remus, when rider Opie Bosson reported he wasn’t comfortable in the heavy ground. He ran fourth in the 2000 Guineas on a soft track.
• Cossetot won the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) on a soft 7 surface, albeit against inferior opposition. He has been out of the money only once in seven starts for James Cummings and is two from two on soft footing.
• Angel Of Truth has won three races, all in weaker company at Kembla Grange, two at 1600 metres. He failed last start when tried over 1900 metres on a heavy track at Rosehill.
• Both of Shuffle Up’s wins have been at Newcastle on good ground. He ran second to Costello at Rosehill when stepped up over 1800 metres but failed last time in heavy ground.
• Firstclass Dreamer has won two of his 12 starts at Werribee and Seymour over 1400 metres and 1600 metres. He has not tried a middle distance.
• Mangione won his only race last October at Canterbury over 1900 metres on soft ground. He has had three runs back for Chris Waller and ran an improver’s third last time at Newcastle.
• So You Think colt Carif won his maiden for Peter and Paul Snowden when stepped up to 1850 metres at Newcastle last time. He failed in soft ground before that.
• Anthony Cummings’ Shaman won his maiden at Gosford in February over 2100 metres in heavy ground. He ran fourth over 2300 metres at Newcastle last start.