The Group 2 $2 million The Invitation race is recently created Special Condition (invitation-only) race for fillies and mares held at Randwick in Sydney on the same day as Melbourne's coveted Cox Plate.
2024 The Invitation Results
- 1st: #3 Belclare
- 2nd: #2 Magic Time
- 3rd: #7 Makarena
The Invitation News
The $2 million The Invitation is a special racing event contested at Royal Randwick on Spring Champion Stakes Day in late October as part of the lucrative The Everest Carnival.
It officially gained Group 2 status in 2024.
2024 The Invitation Results
- 1st: #3 Belclare ($26)
- 2nd: #2 Magic Time
- 3rd: #7 Makarena
The Bjorn Baker-trained Kiwi expat Belclare ($26) found her grove down under with the New Zealand two-time Group 1 winning daughter of Per Incanto charging home a length clear of the beaten favourite Magic Time in an enormous 2024 The Invitation upset result.
The Invitation 2024 Odds & Results
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
3. Belclare (2)
J: Tyler Schiller 59.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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2nd
2. Magic Time (9)
J: Nash Rawiller 59.5kg
T: Grahame Begg |
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3rd
7. Makarena (1)
J: Zac Lloyd 58.5kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
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|
4th
5. Olentia (6)
J: Tommy Berry 58.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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5th
4. Royal Merchant (3)
J: Jason Collett 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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|
6th
9. Roll On High (7)
J: Luke Nolen 58kg
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
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7th
12. Arctic Glamour (12)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 57kg
T: G Ryan & S Alexiou |
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8th
11. Queues Likely (8)
J: Rachel King 58kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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|
9th
10. Coco Jamboo (5)
J: Tom Sherry 58kg
T: Peter Snowden |
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10th
1. Zougotcha (4)
J: Joao Moreira 59.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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11th
8. Terra Mater (10)
J: Josh Parr 58kg
T: J M Austin |
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|
12th
6. Roots (11)
J: Tim Clark 58.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
Data retrieved: 27/10/2024 04:05 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
Sydney’s marquee race for fillies and mares, The Invitation is contested over 1400m by a 12-starter field of female gallopers that have been exclusively invited to take part.
The inaugural edition of The Invitation ran in 2022, and it is a set weights plus penalties race.
Each year Racing NSW convene a panel of racing experts to decide on which fillies and mares from around Australia and New Zealand are invited to take part in the race.
The Invitation runs alongside the Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and the recently renamed Group 2 $1 million Callander-Presnell (1600m), a race formerly known as the Stan Fox Stakes that has now replaced the defunct Bondi Stakes.
The meeting runs on the same day as Melbourne’s Cox Plate Day card at The Valley.
The 2021 The Invitation form was franked with the inaugural winner Icebath going on to run a next-up second in that year’s Group 1 Kennedy Cantala (1600m) – now known as the Champions Mile. She also returned the following autumn to run third in both the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).
The 2021 runner-up Rocha Clock further franked the form also finishing second next-up in the Hot Danish Stakes, while the third-placed Forbidden Love took out the 2022 Group 1 Canterbury Stakes – George Ryder Stakes double next prep.
In 2023 Kerrin McEvoy made it a three-from-three clean-sweep with his win aboard Espiona to be the only The Invitation winning jockey from the race’s opening three editions.
Mares out of The Invitation race may also opt to back-up at Rosehill on The Five Diamonds Day in the Group 2 $500,000 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m). Sheeza Belta (8th in 2022) was the last The Invitation graduate to back-up and win the Group 2.
The 2023 The Invitation form was franked with third place-getter Magic Time winning the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in Melbourne at her next start as well as the following autumn’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes back in Sydney.
The fourth running of the now Group 2 2024 The Invitation took place at Randwick on Saturday, October 26th, 2024 as part of the Spring Champion Stakes Day card in Sydney and was won in a stunning upset by the Bjorn Baker-trained two-time Kiwi Group 1 winner Belclare ($26).
| The Invitation 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday, October 26th, 2024 |
| Track: | Royal Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1400m |
| Race Type: | Set Weights + Penalties – Fillies & Mares |
| Status: | Group 2 – Special Condition (Invitation Only) |
| Prize Money: | $2,000,000 |
2024 The Invitation Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | BELCLARE (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | Tyler Schiller | 2 | 59.5kg | $26 | |||
| 2 | 2 | MAGIC TIME | Grahame Begg | Nash Rawiller | 1.17L | 9 | 59.5kg | $3.10F | ||
| 3 | 7 | MAKARENA | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Zac Lloyd (a) | 1.67L | 1 | 58.5kg | $5.50 | ||
| 4 | 5 | OLENTIA | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 3.1L | 6 | 58.5kg | $7.50 | ||
| 5 | 4 | ROYAL MERCHANT | Ciaron Maher | Jason Collett | 4.3L | 3 | 59kg | $20 | ||
| 6 | 9 | ROLL ON HIGH | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Nolen | 5.5L | 7 | 58kg | $20 | ||
| 7 | 12 | ARCTIC GLAMOUR | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Kerrin McEvoy | 5.73L | 12 | 57kg | $17 | ||
| 8 | 11 | QUEUES LIKELY (GB) | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 6.68L | 8 | 58kg | $51 | ||
| 9 | 10 | COCO JAMBOO (IRE) | Peter Snowden | Tom Sherry | 6.78L | 5 | 58kg | $19 | ||
| 10 | 1 | ZOUGOTCHA | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 8.18L | 4 | 59.5kg | $4.20 | ||
| 11 | 8 | TERRA MATER | Jarrod Austin | Joshua Parr | 8.38L | 10 | 58kg | $71 | ||
| 12 | 6 | ROOTS | Chris Waller | Tim Clark | 8.47L | 11 | 58.5kg | $41 | ||
| 14e | DANNY’S ST DARCI | Matthew Dale | 0 | |||||||
| 13e | MISS HELLFIRE | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 0 |
2024 The Invitation Betting Odds
The Invitation 2024 racing odds will be available here at Races.com.au as soon as The Invitation race betting opens this spring.
There was a notable upset in 2022 with Promise Of Success winning at The Invitation odds of $26.
Another blowout price was on offer for the 2024 The Invitation winner with Bjorn Baker’s Belclare saluting at $26 in the markets.
2024 The Invitation Tips
Stay tuned for our insider The Invitation 2024 betting tips and exotic Randwick, spring racing selections on the now Group 2 feature race of the season in Sydney for fillies and mares.
- To Win: #1 Zougotcha ($3.90 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Looks like Chris Waller’s three-time Group 1 winning daughter of Zoustar has the measure of this field class-wise out to atone for her flat run when last (8th) to stablemate Fangirl in the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) here. She drops notably in grade and back to the 1400m which should see her sharpen. Prior to that ran an eye-catching second fresh to her subsequent Turnbull Stakes winning stablemate Via Sistina, a top hope in Melbourne’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate this weekend, beaten narrowly in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at this track and trip. Won three on the trot last prep including back-to-back Sydney elite levels, loves Randwick, is drawn well in gate five and has the ‘Magic Man’ aboard. Can return to winning form here.
2024 The Invitation Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 THE INVITATION FORM GUIDE
2024 The Invitation Field
The spring’s The Invitation field features an exclusive line-up of 12 fillies and mares from around Australia and New Zealand invited by a panel convened by Racing NSW to contest the $2 million showdown.
Fillies and mares with a proven Group 1 record in earlier races including the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) for fillies held earlier in October and the autumn’s Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) will make a good lead-up into The Invitation field.
The Invitation 2024 field will be confirmed the Tuesday of race week at 10am on the 22nd of October 2024 and published below as soon as available.
The 2024 The Invitation field features a typically top-class field of a dozen invitees led in betting by the Grahame Begg-trained Magic Time, third in the race last year, racing second up off a fourth fresh in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes and Chris Waller’s last start Group 3 The Nivision winner Olentia.
Click here to read more on the key runners in The Invitation 2024 field and betting markets.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 646x111x28 | ZOUGOTCHA | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 5 | 59.5kg | 116 | ||
| 2 | 31x67180x4 | MAGIC TIME | Grahame Begg | Nash Rawiller | 11 | 59.5kg | 113 | ||
| 3 | 0052181×57 | BELCLARE (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | Tyler Schiller | 3 | 59.5kg | 108 | ||
| 4 | 0x86410x73 | ROYAL MERCHANT | Ciaron Maher | Jason Collett | 4 | 59kg | 105 | ||
| 5 | 800x2417x1 | OLENTIA | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 7 | 58.5kg | 108 | ||
| 6 | 10x30x7x28 | ROOTS | Chris Waller | Tim Clark | 13 | 58.5kg | 107 | ||
| 7 | x25244x410 | MAKARENA | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Zac Lloyd (a) | 1 | 58.5kg | 103 | ||
| 8 | 1x419x2110 | TERRA MATER | Jarrod Austin | Joshua Parr | 12 | 58kg | 105 | ||
| 9 | 1x6477105x | ROLL ON HIGH | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Nolen | 8 | 58kg | 99 | ||
| 10 | 2114x150x4 | COCO JAMBOO (IRE) | Peter Snowden | Tom Sherry | 6 | 58kg | 96 | ||
| 11 | x7311x112x | QUEUES LIKELY (GB) | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 10 | 58kg | 95 | ||
| 12 | 70520×2735 | ARCTIC GLAMOUR | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Kerrin McEvoy | 14 | 57kg | 99 | ||
| 13e | 31263656×5 | MISS HELLFIRE | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 9 | 57kg | 90 | |||
| 14e | 528x46x522 | DANNY’S ST DARCI | Matthew Dale | 2 | 57kg | 90 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 The Invitation Nominations
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70520×2735 | ARCTIC GLAMOUR | M | 4 | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | 99 |
| 2 | 0052181×57 | BELCLARE (NZ) | M | 7 | Bjorn Baker | 108 |
| 3 | 2114x150x4 | COCO JAMBOO (IRE) | M | 5 | Peter Snowden | 96 |
| 4 | 31x67180x4 | MAGIC TIME | M | 5 | Grahame Begg | 113 |
| 5 | x25244x410 | MAKARENA | M | 4 | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | 103 |
| 6 | 800x2417x1 | OLENTIA | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 108 |
| 7 | 1x6477105x | ROLL ON HIGH | M | 4 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 99 |
| 8 | 10x30x7x28 | ROOTS | M | 6 | Chris Waller | 107 |
| 9 | 0x86410x73 | ROYAL MERCHANT | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 105 |
| 10 | 1x419x2110 | TERRA MATER | M | 5 | Jarrod Austin | 105 |
| 11 | 646x111x28 | ZOUGOTCHA | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 116 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The Invitation History
The Invitation ran for the first time during the 2021 Sydney Spring Racing Carnival and was won by the Brad Widdup-trained Sacred Falls five-year-old Icebath.
Icebath returned to defend her title in 2022 but missed the kick and eventually ran ninth with the race won in an upset by Promise Of Success at $26.
In 2023 Espiona became the third The Invitation winner and was ridden by Kerrin McEvoy who also rode the first two winners of the event.
The 2024 The Invitation winner scored a one-length upset as a $26 outsider for trainer Bjorn Baker despite being a two-time Group 1 winner in New Zealand.
| YEAR | WINNER | 2ND | 3RD | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Belclare | Magic Time | Makarena | 1:20.74 |
| 2023 | Espiona | Ruthless Dame | Magic Time | 1:21.74 |
| 2022 | Promise Of Success | Electric Girl | Nimalee | 1:25.05 |
| 2021 | Icebath | Rocha Clock | Forbidden Love | 1:22.37 |
Race comments
ZOUGOTCHA (1) classy mare expected to bounce back to winning form after being run down late by Via Sistina first up, and then disappointing when a wilting eighth behind Fangirl over 1600m in the 7+ Stakes at this track on September 21. Kept fresh and since fitted with a 1000m tick over trial. Tongue tie goes on and she gets the right race set up today. OLENTIA (5) underrated mare who sprouted wings late when a slick 1.2 len winner first-up over 1200m in the G3 The Nivison at Rosehill on October 12. Second up record is just as good and expected to play a leading role. ROYAL MERCHANT (4) tough mare who went forward with the 59kg and gave a great sight when a narrow third over 1200m in the G3 The Nivison at Rosehill. Maps well again and can give plenty of cheek at the good odds. MAGIC TIME (2) returned in good order with an eye-catching fourth over 1200m at Flemington in the G2 Gilgai on October 5. Saves her best for this track and trip and has the ability to overcome the sticky draw.