The Invitation 2021 – tips, preview and runner by runner

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There are 12 runners plus three emergencies for the $2,000,000 The Invitation ranging in age from three to seven. Both Chris Waller and John Thompson have two runners each. Three of them had their last run in the Group 2 Golden Pendant over 1400m on 25 September, and four plus two emergencies in The Nivison Group 3 over 1200m on 9 October.

The early favourite is five-year-old  Entriviere who has six wins and three places from nine starts. Second favourite is Icebath who never saw daylight when 3 lengths 9th in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap last outing. Third favourite is Startantes who has five wins from 10 starts and ran 3rd in the Group 1 Flight Stakes last start.

Vangelic won the Group 2 Golden Pendant before finishing 12th in the Silver Eagle after being severely checked. Nudge hit the line strongly when a close 3rd in the Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes when resuming. Tricky Gal finished 2nd in the Group 3 The Nivison with the best overall race sectionals. Sweet Deal was 6th in that race, while Forbidden Love finished 8th in the Golden Pendant last outing.  The other two runners are currently 18 to 1 or longer.

1. Madam Rouge

One of two runners for Chris Waller. This four-year-old All Too Hard mare has five wins and four places from 16 starts.

2. Nudge

Also from the Chris Waller stable, she hit the line strongly when a close 3rd in the Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes when resuming.

3. Sweet Deal

One of two runners for John Thompson. This seven-year-old is the oldest runner and is currently in foal. Finished 6th in the Group 3 The Nivison.

4. Forbidden Love

Finished 8th in the Golden Pendant last outing.

5. Media Award

The most lightly-raced runner, this four-year-old has raced six times for three wins and two places. She resumes here after finishing last campaign with three consecutive wins – a Kyneton maiden, a BM 64 at Gellong and the Group 1 Australasian Oaks.

6. Entriviere

This five-year-old Tavistock mare trained by Jamie Richards has six wins and three places from nine starts. When resuming after 21 weeks she was a 1.3 length winner of the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes over 1200m at the Rosehill at Kembla Grange meeting on 11 September, then she chased hard for 0.8 length 3rd in the Group 2 Golden Pendant over 1400m at Rosehill on 25 September where she had the best last 600m race sectional of the day at the distance.  Looks to be a strong chance.

7. Vangelic

Won the Group 2 Golden Pendant before finishing 12th in the Silver Eagle after being severely checked.

8. Rocha Clock

This five-year-old trained by John O’Shea has seven wins and four places from 18 starts.

9. Madam Legend

Has seven wins and five places from 18 starts.

10. Icebath

Never saw daylight when 3 lengths 9th in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap last outing

11. Tricky Gal

Finished 2nd in the Group 3 The Nivison with the best overall race sectionals.

12. Startantes

The only three-year-old in the race. Has five wins from 10 starts and ran 3rd in the Group 1 Flight Stakes last start.

13. More Prophets – 1st Emergency

Won the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong three starts back before working home strongly when runner up in the Group 3 Angst Stakes last start. Place chance if she gets a run.

14. Yamazaki – 2nd Emergency

Finished ninth in The Nivison last start when fresh and has not won in six outings to the track before. Ran 14th at Gold Coast when last second-up. Not here.

15. Belluci Babe – 3rd Emergency

Unlikely to get a start as the 3rd emergency.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
6. Entriviere
12. Startantes
10. Icebath
5. Media Award

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	10. Icebath
2nd	8. Rocha Clock	1.39 lengths
3rd	4. Forbidden Love	1.57 lengths
4th	6. Entriviere	1.64 lengths

The track was rated as Good 3.

Scratchings: 13e More Prophets, 14e Yamazaki, 15e Belluci Babe