3 minute read

High class Kiwi three-year-old Platinum Invador is set to join the growing list of New Zealand stars heading to Sydney for The Championships.

The Lisa Latta-trained Platinum Invador ran on well to finish third in the G1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie last Saturday, putting the $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 6 on his agenda.

His connections have now shifted their focus towards Australia with their gelding after pleasing Latta with his effort after a hard lead-up into the classic.

“It was a really good run and a big effort for the horse to back-up three times in two weeks with two trips to Auckland,” she said.

“He went straight to the paddock on Sunday for a week.

“We are thinking of the Australian Derby but we obviously want to give him a week off and get him back into the stable and see how he has come through the race.”

Latta said Platinum Invador could contest the G2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 30 as a lead in to the Australian Derby.

“He may head to the Tulloch because we know he can back up a week later,” Latta said. “We will make a decision next week.”

Latta said she is excited about his prospects heading into autumn.

“Earlier in the season I didn’t think he would get to the Derby, but he’s just gone forward in the right direction,” she said.

“He stays, he relaxes and he’s got a good turn of foot. That’s quite hard to find.”

Latta is looking forward to lining up Five to Midnight in the G1 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Latta said the six-year-old gelding has pulled up well after his placing in the G2 Avondale Cup (2400m) last month and believes he will benefit from the set weights and penalties conditions of the race.

“He’s very well,” she said. “He had a couple of days in the paddock after the Avondale Cup and worked well on Friday morning.

“It will be the lightest weight (56kg) he has carried in a very long time.”