The Chris Waller trained Invinzabeel will need more than his fair share of luck when he jumps from an outside barrier in the 2018 Listed $150,000 Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Invinzabeel, above, will need a lot of luck from a wide barrier in the 2018 Winter Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Waller is happy with the way Invinzabeel is shaping up this campaign but admits the I Am Invincible six year old is facing a tough task from gate twelve in the thirteen horse Winter Stakes field.
“Awkward gate but at least he is getting a good track,” Waller said.
“His form this prep has been very good. We expect him to run well but just needs a little bit of luck from that wide alley.”
Invinzabeel has collected a cheque from both his runs this preparation with a first up third behind stalemate Sir Bacchus in the $100,000 Octagonal Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on June 2 followed by a second to Flow over the same course and distance in a BenchMark 95 Handicap on June 16.
Senior jockey Blake Shinn takes over from apprentice Jean Van Overmeire on Invinzabeel who is marked as $6 equal second favourite for the Winter Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Invinzabeel shares the second line of betting with the John Thompson trained Special Missile while his stablemate Dreamforce is the current $3.70 favourite.
Waller will also saddle the first emergency Sir Bacchus who has gained a place in the field following the early scratching of the Patrick Payne trained Widgee Turf.
Sir Bacchus has drawn in close at barrier four with Jay Ford booked to ride and the Sebring five year old finds it hard to string two good runs together because of his get back racing style.
Waller said that Sir Bacchus needs a lot of things to go right for him during a race to see him figure in the finish and he can only hope that things can break his way in the Winter Stakes.
“He is going okay. He just needs a bit of luck in his races and obviously his style of racing which is getting back, makes it hard,” Waller said.
“But if you run this type of race eight times he will win one of them and he has been in some pretty good form this preparation already. “
Sir Bacchus was a winner over this course and distance three starts back and comes into the Winter Stakes on the back of a last start tenth in the Listed $150,000 Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill on June 30 and is marked at $17 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The favourite Dreamforce has been very consistent over his last two campaigns with four wins and two seconds from his last seven starts with his two runs this preparation resulting in a a first up win over 1100m at Randwick on May 26 followed by a second in the Civic Stakes.
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