Saturday’s final Melbourne Cup lead-up could see Invador victim of another walkfest

Part owner Neville McAlister gets his wish to see Platinum Invador race at Flemington on Saturday but he fears not even the big, roomy track will be enough to see the horse overcome the lack of pace expected in the A$200,000 Lexus Stakes (2500m).

And that, on top of a frustrating run of walkfests in the lead-up races, will see Platinum Invador stranded just outside the 24-horse cut-off for Tuesday’s A$7.75 million Melbourne Cup.

Platinum Invador’s City Of Auckland Cup win was nearly three seconds faster than they ran in the Geelong Cup.McAlister, who races the City Of Auckland Cup winner with Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, says the Lexus field is the weakest the horse has met so far in Australia but countering that is the fact he will have to carry 59.5kg.

“He’s never had to carry that before in his life (59kg was the most when pipped in the Avondale Cup) but the bigger worry is their races simply don’t suit genuine stayers.

“Over there they jump, go fast for 400 metres then put on the brakes and go at a hack canter until they sprint at the 800. It’s like none of their jockeys believe their horses can stay.

“If he’s giving them 10 lengths at the 600 he can’t be in the money.”

McAlister says it may well be that Platinum Invador’s pattern of running - getting back and coming with a big late run - just doesn’t suit Australian racing.

“In New Zealand if you go back you can get away with it but over there they go too slow.

“We run 2:27 for 2400 metres, they go 2:30 to 2:32. There’s been no pace in any race he’s been in over there. Yesterday’s Bendigo Cup took 2:29.3 which is still 10 lengths slower than it would take here.”

The 2500 metre starting point at Flemington is close to a bend so wide draws are a distinct disadvantage.McAlister says at the moment it’s impossible to know if Platinum Invador is good enough to match the best Australians and the imports.

“On form you’d say probably not but until he races close to the pace we won’t know for sure.

“He’s never been asked to go forward so we don’t know if he can race handy or not. We’ve been plagued by bad draws and until we get a good barrier we don’t know if he’s going to be able to adapt to the Australian style.”

From eight on Saturday, McAlister says rider Luke Nolen will have no option but to restrain again as the 2500 metre starting point is very close to a bend.

“The horse jumps well enough. It’s not as if he’s falling out of the gates. He’s having to be snagged back to get in from wide draws.

“If the pace is on he’d be a chance but it’s very hard to find a pacemaker in the field.”

Platinum Invador’s owners Neville McAlister, right, and John Street with Lisa Latta who trains the horse in New Zealand.McAlister says he has little confidence in Platinum Invador running in the first three on Saturday, given he didn’t run home strongly when seventh in the Geelong Cup (2400m) last time.

But it was hard to get a real line on the horse that day because he came so wide to make his run.

“He took off at the 800 and went wide, which is not how the horse likes to be ridden, and it was against the pattern on the day.

“Ashrun put two or three lengths on him in the run home too so, from two on Saturday, he looks clearly the one to beat.”

Sitting on 28th in the order of entry, Platinum Invador would have to win the Lexus to gain a Melbourne Cup start, says McAlister.

Trainer Peter Moody was resigned to not even getting a start for his other runner Nickajack Cave, who after coming all the way from Ireland, is 27th in the order.

“Even if we won I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do to start in the cup. He could be a year away.

“But Peter thought it was worth a throw at the stumps. At least we’re on a big roomy track with a long straight which is what we wanted.”

Flemington, with its 2313 metre circumference and 450 metre long straight, gives horses their best chance to wind up, unlike the tighter tracks that Platinum Invador has been racing on like Moonee Valley and Caulfield.

Platinum Invador runs at 3.40pm NZ time at Flemington on Saturday.

Platinum Invador is 28th in the order of entry for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup but isn’t expected to make the 24-horse cut.