Racing NSW select first six horses for $2m The Invitation

Group 1 winners Espiona, Ruthless Dame and Royal Merchant are among the first mares into the field for the $2m The Invitation (1400m) at Royal Randwick later this month.

Racing NSW has begun the selection process for the rich fillies and mares race with more than half of the 12-horse field confirmed as starters.

They include the Chris Waller-trained Espiona, winner of the Group 1 Coolmore Classic and Group 2 Golden Pendant, and a competitive seventh in The Everest last week.

Espiona’s stablemate Roots has also earned a start in The Invitation.

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Waller did have the mare nominated for the Five Diamonds Prelude this weekend but did not accept as he is concentrating on the October 28 race.

Roots, who ran on strongly resuming for fifth behind Cepheus in the Alan Brown Stakes, showed her talent late last season winning the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes and finishing a close second to Palaisipan in the Group 1 Tatts Tiara.

Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have secured starts for Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes winner Ruthless Dame and her stablemate Royal Merchant, winner of The Goodwood.

Ruthless Dame has had two runs back from a spell and wasn’t beaten far in the Silver Eagle won by Vienna Princess last week.

Royal Merchant has only had the one run back this spring, finishing eight in The Nivison won by Magic Time.

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The Grahame Begg-trained Magic Time has won four of her six starts and deserves her The Invitation berth as does Luke Pepper’s Opal Ridge, the “Pride of Scone” who won the Luskin Star Stakes and Darby Munro Stakes at Listed level last season before resuming with a good second in The Kosciuszko behind Front Page last week.

The other confirmed The Invitation starter is the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Banana Queen, who has found her best form this spring winning the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes and placing third behind Espiona in the Group 2 Golden Pendant.

Other mares believed to be in line for a start in The Invitation include Alcohol Free, Barbie’s Fox and Dalchini.

Espiona has been installed as the early TAB fixed odds favourite at $4 for The Invitation ahead of Magic Time at $5 with Opal Ridge next at $7.

Originally published as Chris Waller mare Espiona installed favourite for The Invitation after she was among first six horses picked

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