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By Ray Hickson

At around the 600m mark of the Silver Eagle, jockey Tim Clark thought he was on the winner as he waited for the gap to appear for Vangelic to pounce.

Jockey Tim Clark (Pic: Bradley Photos)

About 300m later he was just pleased both he and the mare were still on their feet.

Vangelic suffered severe interference in that race two weeks ago when the horse she was following in the Golden Eagle preview, Triple Ace, went amiss and she stumbled so Clark eased her out of the event.

Given Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott gave her the green light to contest Saturday’s $2 million The Invitation (1400m) at Royal Randwick, Clark is confident she can get back to winning form.

“A lot went on in that race but I feel with even luck she was probably going to be the winner,’’ Clark said.

“If that was the case she would be coming here off two really good wins and she’d be a lot shorter in the market.

“If Gai and Adrian are happy to send her back to the races it’s a very good sign she’s come through it unscathed and ready to go again.”

Clark said the four-year-old was put completely out of play by the incident and while we’ll never know what would have been what he does know is putting the horse’s wellbeing first was the right move.

“It was probably only a matter of 20 or 30 more metres and the horse outside the leader was going to drop off and she was going to present, and more than likely go on to win the race,’’ he said.

“I was right behind (Triple Ace) and she was severely hampered. After we got through all that the race had got away from her.

“I just eased her down, more as a precautionary thing. She didn’t feel like anything was wrong. Thankfully she stayed on her feet and importantly she seemed to get through the run unharmed.”

The Golden Pendant winner was one of the first horses selected for The Invitation and was $10 with TAB on Thursday despite accounting for the favourite Entriviere in the Group 2 race over 1400m last month.

Clark expects Vangelic to take up her usual on pace spot, whether that’s in front or just parked close, and on her Rosehill win expects her to be hard to beat.

“A horse like Madam Legend will probably roll forward so hopefully we can get across into a position before we start turning and let the race unfold from there,’’ he said.

Among Clark’s other rides is Belluci Babe, who is an emergency for The Invitation but will likely line up in the Southern Cross Group Handicap (1200m).

Vangelic wins the Golden Pendant at Rosehill

The mare was up sharply in class on her first-up win when she finished a close third behind Minhaaj in the Group 3 Nivison over the same course two weeks ago.

“She’s come back in really good order. Even though she was jumping in grade last start she acquitted herself well,’’ he said.

Track conditions are important for Belluci Babe, with all five career wins coming on good surfaces, and Clark hopes he has the chance from an ideal draw to make use of her best asset.

“She’s got a short sharp sprint but she has matured over the last prep or two,’’ he said.

“She’s pretty versatile and she should find a good spot just off the speed and camp in behind them. If I can hold her together a little longer than normal and expose her late she will pick up ground quickly given the right circumstances.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting