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By Ray Hickson

If Group 1 winning mare Media Award performs to trainer Chris Calthorpe’s hopes in Saturday’s $2m The Invitation (1400m) at Royal Randwick there’s every chance they’ll chase a bigger payday in Sydney.

The Australasian Oaks winner is set to tackle the Invitation first-up since winning her Group 1 back in May at just her sixth start and Calthorpe said the $7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill a week later is also on the radar.

“I said to the owners you’re going to potentially race for $9.5 million in seven days, where’s that going to happen in the world,’’ he said.

“There’s obviously some good fillies and mares in the race, but once you’ve won your Group 1 you’ve got to take them on somewhere.

“There’s no Winx in it, it seems an even bunch of highly rated quality mares.”

Media Award, along with Group 3 winner Rocha Clock, accepted her place in the inaugural Invitation which will feature a smart line up including star Kiwi mare Entriviere, Group 1 winner Forbidden Love and Doncaster runner-up Icebath.

Calthorpe said Media Award spelled in Queensland following her Group 1 win, she was due to start in the Queensland Oaks but was scratched on the morning of the race with a minor injury.

Complications due to the Covid 19 pandemic meant the mare’s original aim of a Perth trip was in the too hard basket so that’s when The Invitation came onto the radar.

WOW!

Chris Calthorpe's FIRST ever Group One runner takes out the Australasian Oaks!

Media Award gets the chocolates with Luke Nolen onboard pic.twitter.com/GulPmliyUa

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) May 1, 2021

“The 1400m first-up timing wise is great, I know she only won a maiden first-up but it was 1400m and she’s done plenty of work,’’ Calthorpe said.

“Now that we’ve got an invite we’re all systems go and keen to get there.

“I got a call from Racing NSW after we flagged some interest and they asked would the Golden Eagle interest us. I didn’t nominate for it but they let us nominate and Perth is going to be nearly impossible.

“If we get through the (Invitation) run and run well the Golden Eagle is an option.”

Media Award will have her final piece of work at Geelong on Tuesday morning and Calthorpe said so far her preparation has been ideal. She had a jump out at Penshurst last Monday and a solid gallop on the course proper at home on Friday.

He’s not too concerned about the forecast of a bit of rain during the week so long as the horse doesn’t have to deal with a heavy track first-up.

“We’ll have a throw at the stumps and see how we go,’’ he said.

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