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By Ray Hickson

Icebath is being prepared to defend her win in the $2 million The Invitation after connections of the outstanding mare accepted their place in the fillies and mares feature run at Royal Randwick on October 22.

Trainer Brad Widdup said he’s likely to follow a similar path with the six-year-old by running in the Group 1 $1.5m TAB Epsom Handicap (1600m) three weeks before coming back to the 1400m of The Invitation.

Icebath's trainer Brad Widdup

How he gets Icebath to the Epsom is still open for discussion.

“I’ve got the blueprint there for her for the race this year. It makes it a hell of a lot easier,’’ he said.

“The options are two weeks into the Tibbie (at Newcastle) or three weeks to the Golden Pendant then back up into the Epsom.

“There was a bit of discussion about the George Main but I’m not sure I want to take on Anamoe and Zaaki.

“Even if it was wet, why stuff yourself up there when there’s a $2 million race in front of her.”

While Icebath is still yet to win a stakes race – one of the strangest anomalies in racing – she left no doubt she’s one of the classiest mares in training with her slashing second behind Zaaki in last Saturday’s Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m).

It was her 11th placing at stakes level, including four at Group 1 level, as she defied the pattern of the day to finish under two lengths from one of the nation’s best gallopers.

“She was a little bit awkward out of the barriers, (Kerrin McEvoy) wanted to be ahead of Character but ended up behind him,’’ Widdup said.

“I’m not saying she would have beaten Zaaki, he probably would have found more, but she was gallant again.

“I think she’s going better than this time last year and she’s pulled up enormous. I’m over the moon with the way she’s going and the way she looks, her coat’s come on again for that run.”

Icebath, a winner of $4.3 million in prizemoney, is an $8 chance in TAB’s all-in market on The Invitation.

She overcame the outside barrier and swept down the outside to beat Rocha Clock and Forbidden Love in the inaugural edition, run on a good 3 surface.

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