Platinum Invador (NZ) Roars Home in Auckland Cup Thriller

The supreme stamina of Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood) shone through in a thrilling come-from-behind win in Saturday’s $500,000 Group Two Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Pukekohe.

Previously a third and fourth placegetter in the time-honoured two-mile test, Platinum Invador took his career earnings to $757,654 from a 39-start career that has produced five wins and nine placings. His trainer Lisa Latta paid only $25,000 to buy him from the 2017 Festival Yearling Sale at Karaka.

The seven-year-old went into his third shot at an Auckland Cup somewhat under the radar, having been brought along quietly by Latta in his return from a significant leg injury.

But he brought his A-game in the one that mattered most, launching a withering run out of the pack to reel in Nerve Not Verve (NZ) (Shocking) in the shadows of the post and score by a neck. The first two finished five lengths clear of the rest of the field.

“This is absolutely fantastic,” Latta said. “I’ve tried a few times to win this race and we’ve run a few placings. It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win, and I’m just thrilled for John and Lyn (Street, co-owners) and Neville (McAlister, co-owner). They have been such loyal supporters of mine.

“We packed the work into this horse. He needed his run in the Avondale Cup (2400m). Jonathan (Riddell) got off him after he worked on Wednesday and said, ‘You’ve finally got this horse fit.’

“He’s been a very easy horse, although he did a tendon in Brisbane and we had to give him 12 months off. When they have an injury like that, you can be a little too cautious at times. We talked about it, and I knew I had to pack the work into him to get him here today.

“He coped with the work really well, and he has been swimming and doing everything like a normal horse.

“We’ve had a lean two or three years, so I’m just over the moon to get this today.”

Winning jockey Ryan Elliott has had a remarkable week with sons of Westbury Stud stallion Redwood, having guided fellow Karaka graduate Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) to an outstanding win in last Saturday’s $1m Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m).

“A lot of dedication has gone into getting my weight down, and to be able to get on these better horses at the light weights is paying off,” Elliot said.

“Jonathan Riddell has been riding this guy, but when the weights came out he had 55 kilograms, which meant Jonathan couldn’t make it. Because I’ve ridden him a few times before, it gave me the confidence to pick up the phone.

“I worked him the other week and he felt like his old self, and I’m just so thrilled to get an Auckland Cup for everyone involved with this horse.

“He jumped away better today and landed in a nice spot and I got the drag up behind them. When he let down, he just roared home.”

Platinum Invador headed an all-Karaka trifecta in this year’s Auckland Cup. Runner-up Nerve Not Verve cost $60,000 at the 2017 Select Sale and has earned $768,580, while the third-placed Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed) – a half-brother to the 2018 Auckland Cup winner Ladies First (NZ) (Dylan Thomas) – was bought for $60,000 at Karaka 2019 and has banked $233,592.

Vendor	Westbury Stud
Purchaser	Lisa Latta Racing (Palmerston North)
Breeding	Redwood – Atomic Dancer
Sale	Lot 1133, 2017 Festival Sale, $25,000
Bred by	C Stewart