Filly Lady Invictus seeks Saturday success at Randwick
Having already achieved a couple of city victories, the well-bred filly Lady Invictus is poised to further enhance her standing this Saturday at Randwick.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained speedster is set to contest a maiden Saturday win in the $160,000 Happy Retirement Lynne McLean BM72 3YO Handicap, a 1300-metre event.
This daughter of I Am Invincible, acquired for $675,000 as an Inglis Premier yearling, secured a third placing in her only previous Saturday grade start two runs ago. This performance was bookended by two midweek city wins, and Bott expressed a desire for her to conclude her three-year-old season with a Saturday triumph.
"She's done well this prep and she deserves that," Bott remarked.
"It would be a good indication of her ability going forward.
"That Saturday placing was full of merit, so that gives us confidence stepping into this grade on Saturday that she can be competitive like she has been before.
"It was a nice win last start from her. She seems to be in good shape, and there's more upside from her going forward."
Lady Invictus's third place finish came over 1100 metres at Rosehill on June 27, trailing Lighthouse Lass by three-quarters of a length. The start before, she broke her maiden by the same margin over the same distance at Warwick Farm. Her last start saw her defeat Gatwick by a neck in a 1200m BM64 for three-year-olds at Canterbury.
While Adam Hyeronimus partnered her for that victory, Tim Clark is scheduled to ride from barrier nine on Saturday.
Lady Invictus, who is currently heading the betting at $3.60, represents one of three Randwick contenders for the Bott and Waterhouse partnership. They also have the Silver Slipper Stakes runner-up Eviction Notice aiming for a maiden win in the opening 1100m two-year-old race of the day.
Later on the card, the Toronado gelding Sly Boots will be striving for his initial win of the season in the 1800m BM78 event designated for male horses.
Sly Boots was beaten 5-1/2 lengths by Tazima in his last outing, but that was in BM88 company on a Heavy 9 track. Bott is anticipating a better performance from him on a more favourable surface.
"The key will be the conditions, if he can get that better track it will be much more to his liking," he stated.
"His first couple of runs, he didn't have much luck with barriers and in running. Last start he got all the favours but couldn't quite quicken on that ground, but he stuck on well and hopefully everything falls into place on Saturday because he is deserving of it."
Randwick was assessed as a Soft 6 on Friday afternoon, with forecasts indicating fine weather for both Friday and Saturday.
Rachel King will ride Sly Boots, a $7.50 chance, who also drew barrier nine.
Check out the latest racing odds at online bookmakers for this exciting race.
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