New Zealander Entriviere has staked her claims for selection in the $2 million The Invitation with a strong return in the Sheraco Stakes at Kembla Grange.
It was a belated spring kick-off for the Jamie Richards-trained mare, who was scratched from the Toy Show Quality last month due to a foot abscess.
Entriviere ($2.60 fav) showed no signs of that issue on Saturday, unleashing down the outside to defeat Fituese ($6.50) by 1-1/4 lengths with Marboosha ($10) another three-quarters of a length away third.
The Kiwi raider has now won six of her eight starts and Richards says she is a pleasure to train.
“She puts in 120 per cent every day, whether that is trackwork, trials or races,” Richards said.
“She wants to do whatever she can to please.
“I love the way she pins her ears back and is in for the fight.”
Entriviere is likely to go to the Golden Pendant (1400m) in two weeks rather than take on the boys in the Premiere Stakes (1200m) a week later but her main mission is The Invitation (1400m) on October 23.
“I’m concentrating on having her ready to win The Invitation,” Richards said.
“So she can have a month between runs and a trial into The Invitation – she’s at her best with her races spaced.”
Winning jockey James Mcdonald believes Entriviere is open to further improvement and says she will appreciate a rain-affected track.
“I think she’s just crying out for a bit of rain, or a bit of give in the ground,” McDonald said.
“The track’s racing pretty firm and you wouldn’t want to see her on firm ground too many times.”
