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By Ray Hickson

Te Akau boss David Ellis enjoys nothing more than coming to Sydney and winning big races and he’s excited that outstanding mare Entriviere is one of the first asked to contest the inaugural $2m The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick later this month.

The star Kiwi will be joined by Doncaster Mile and Golden Eagle runner-up Icebath and Golden Pendant winner Vangelic in the fillies and mares feature race on October 23.

Ellis, whose first Sydney Group 1 was Te Akau Nick in the Metropolitan back in 1992 – also Gai Waterhouse’s first Group 1 win, said he’s in awe of what Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club have done to lift the status of racing in Sydney, particularly in the spring.

“We love coming to Sydney, we love coming at Easter for the sales. I’ve been to the spring carnival many times,’’ Ellis said.

Entriviere is the favourite for the $2m The Invitation. (Pic: Steve Hart)

“I think what the administrators are doing in Sydney is an example to the rest of the world. We’re in awe of them for having the innovation to put a race like this on.

“It shows true leadership and we are really excited to be given an invitation.”

Entriviere is the $3.50 favourite with TAB in pre-noms betting on The Invitation and she produced a sizzling performance at her spring debut with a runaway win in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) on September 11.

Although beaten into third placing in the Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) two weeks later she lost no admirers charging home from the back to be beaten three-quarters of a length by Vangelic.

She trials at Randwick on Friday and Ellis said he and trainer Jamie Richards hand picked the five-year-old to tackle The Invitation when the concept was announced.

“Right from when we gave her the first gallop she was a filly with enormous potential and she hasn’t let us down,’’ he said.

“She’s very exciting, she’s a typical New Zealand bred horse. She’s put up some unbelievable efforts and she keeps getting better each year.”

Icebath’s trainer Brad Widdup had been sweating on an invitation into the new race and is hoping his mare can be on the right end of the prizemoney cheque this time after several close calls.

Of course she was narrowly beaten in the $7.5m Golden Eagle last spring and in the autumn was touched out in the Doncaster Mile, she’ll tackle The Invitation on the back of a luckless ninth, beaten three lengths, in the TAB Epsom (1600m).

“I’m sure it’s going to be a good race, it’s another new thing we have in NSW,’’ Widdup said.

“Like the Golden Eagle, we were lucky to have a crack at that and it’ll be nice to have a crack at this one.

“It’s a fillies and mares race, a new concept, it’s $2 million, it’s hard to pass up.”

Widdup said Icebath, $9 in The Invitation market, has come through her run in the Epsom so well it’s like she didn’t go around in the race, so to freshen her up for 1400m isn’t going to be an issue.

“She was bright as a button the next day,’’ he said.

“You don’t do much different in our workload anyway, I can be a little easier on her. She’s been in really good order right through this preparation.”

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