The Invitation

ESPIONA winning the The Invitation at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart

The Invitation is a race run under Set Weights & Penalties conditions for fillies and mares at Randwick conducted by the Australian Turf Club.

The Invitation is run over 1400m. It was first run in 2021 and was won by Icebath.

The Invitation became the richest race for fillies and mares in the country when initiated and comprises a field of 12 all of whom are invited to run.

The Invitation was worth $2,000,000 in 2023.

The first running was won by a mare Icebath who had had some incredible performances at G1 level but amazingly was yet to win a single group race even six months after she took this race out.

In 2022 Kerrin McEvoy won on Promise Of Success meaning he had won the first two Everests and the first two Invitations.

Back to the G1 mares with Espiona being just strong enough late to score in 2023. It meant Kerrin McEvoy had in fact won all three Invitations.

The 2023 Invitation was won by Espiona from Ruthless Dame and Magic Time.


Results

28 Oct 2023, THE INVITATION , ESPIONA 1400m 1:21.74 | RANDWICK | KERRIN MCEVOY | CHRIS WALLER
22 Oct 2022, THE INVITATION , PROMISE OF SUCCESS 1400m 1:25.05 | RANDWICK | KERRIN MCEVOY | JOHN O'SHEA
23 Oct 2021, The Invitation , ICEBATH 1400m 1:22.37 | RANDWICK | KERRIN MCEVOY | BRAD WIDDUP