Everest Day at Randwick has become one of the centrepieces of the Australasian racing calendar, and Saturday’s edition will once again have plenty of Kiwi flavour, including the Lisa Latta-trained Platinum Pantheon in the A$1 millionListed Silver Eagle (1300m).
While New Zealand-bred sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising will headline the Kiwi contingent in the A$20 million The Everest (1200m), New Zealand racing fans will also be keeping a close eye on the Palmerston North galloper as he looks to build on his impressive run of form.
Platinum Pantheon has posted four consecutive runner-up results, all in Australia, and will look to go one better in the Silver Eagle on Saturday.
He has drawn barrier 12 and will be ridden by Zac Lloyd, who rode him a fortnight ago at Randwick.
“They have had a fair bit of rain so he has hopefully drawn in the right place,” said Latta, who will be trackside on Saturday.
“Zac went and galloped him on Tuesday morning and was rapt with the way he worked. It is good to have someone on him again who knows him.
“It is another step up, it is a very good field, but we will get a good line on where we are at with him.”
Platinum Pantheon is currently an equal fifth favourite for the race, alongside Night Agent, at $13, in a market headed by Skyhook at $3.
Back in New Zealand, Latta will also be seeking stakes success at Ellerslie, where Platinum Attack is a $3 favourite for the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m), while Pinafore will take on a strong line-up in the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).
Platinum Attack travelled to Rotorua last Sunday to contest the Group Three sprint, but Latta said he has taken no ill effects from the trip, and she is looking forward to lining up the multiple stakes winner at Ellerslie.
“He went to Rotorua the other day but doesn’t seem to have taken any harm from it,” she said. “He has worked really well, I am really happy with him, and it will be good to get him back to 1200m.”
While Pinafore was runner-up in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings last month, she is unwanted by punters in the Soliloquy following her unplaced run in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), and is currently a $31 outsider in a market headed by Hawea at $4.50.
Latta was pleased to draw barrier three earlier in the week, and Pinafore will be ridden by Jasmine Fawcett.
“She didn’t get all favours last start, so it’s good to get a decent draw up there,” Latta said.
Latta will also have a strong contingent at Otaki on Saturday and Waverley on Sunday, and has labelled Hoorah Henry and Bellass as two of her leading chances at Otaki in the Harcourts Otaki Handicap (1400m) and Cavallo Farms & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Three-Year-Old (1200m) respectively. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
