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By Ray Hickson

She was hand picked by Jamie Richards to tackle the inaugural $2m The Invitation (1400m) and the champion Kiwi trainer sees no reason why Entriviere can’t complete the mission at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Jamie Richards (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Richards has no shortage of talented mares he could have pointed to the newest addition to Sydney’s spring carnival and he says the race is an ideal stepping stone to Group 1 contests in 2022.

Save for a more favourable barrier, he said the lightly raced five-year-old has had everything fall into place at the right time.

“She’s been set up for this race and hopefully we can pull it off,’’ Richards said.

“I’m happy with how it has all gone. She was great winning at Kembla then she was fantastic even though she was beaten at Rosehill.”

Entriviere’s spring debut was delayed by a couple of weeks due to a stone bruise prior to her scheduled first-up run in the Toy Show but she left no doubts she would be the horse to beat in the Invitation by taking out the Sheraco Stakes (1200m) back on September 11.

Though she was a beaten favourite in the Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) it was a wide barrier and slow tempo that conspired to bring her undone.

She was taken back to last and made a run around the field with no backs to follow. Punter’s Intelligence sectional data showed she posted a sizzling 32.50 for her last 600m and finished within 0.8 lengths of Vangelic.

“James (McDonald) said she was fantastic, it was an on speed bias that day at Rosehill and her sectionals were as good as any horse on the day,’’ Richards said.

“If she’s got a draw she can sit handy, when she draws out she can get cover and finish off but in an ideal world we’d like to get a soft run.”

Tommy Berry has picked up the ride on Entriviere, $3 with TAB on Wednesday.

The mare bridged the gap between the Golden Pendant and the Invitation with a close second behind Classique Legend in a trial on October 8 and worked to the trainer’s liking on the course proper at Randwick on Tuesday morning.

Richards said there are so many options for a horse like Entriviere in the new year but confirmed she will return to New Zealand for a break after Saturday’s race.

Entriviere runs third in the Golden Pendant

“I haven’t really thought past this prep but she could roll up in anything,’’ he said.

“I think she is a Group 1 winner in waiting all going well, provided she can stay sound and healthy.

“She’s got speed to go six furlongs, she’s got enough stamina to stay a mile so there are options for her.

“She’s a really classy mare, probably as fast as we’ve got, she’s up there with the best of them and we’ve been lucky enough to have a few good ones to get a gauge on it in recent times.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting