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Trainer Robert Heathcote is more that happy to have Startantes’ spring preparation revolve around another shot at The Invitation after being the first horse selected for the second edition of the $2 million feature in October.
On the back of Startantes' Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara win last weekend, Heathcote accepted one of the 12 places in the 1400m fillies and mares event at Royal Randwick on October 22.
The inaugural running was won by Icebath and Heathcote said he'd aim to have his rising four-year-old ready third-up while noting there is also a $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) available to her which is run a week later.
"There's so many options it's not funny,'' Heathcote said.
"You have to keen. I was in it last year and the fact we've been asked and there's only 12 in it, I was happy to say yes, I will work my carnival plans around The Invitation."
Startantes was handed a place in The Invitation last spring, where she finished unplaced, on the back of her placing in the Group 1 Flight Stakes and she again proved herself up with the best of her age in Sydney in the autumn.
After a close second to Hinged in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m), Heathcote elected to miss the Group 1 Coolmore Classic and The Star Championships with the filly and that decision paid off as she beat older mares in the final Group 1 of the season.
"It vindicated the form around Espiona, Fangirl, Hinged,'' he said.
"I opted to come back home, they went on and enjoyed further success. It's a nice crop of three-year-old fillies and Startantes, at the end of the day, is up there with them.
"She got beaten narrowly in the Surround Stakes, she's run fifth in the Stradbroke without a lot of luck and she's come out and franked that form by beating the likes of Snapdancer.
"She ran the fastest 600m of the day, fastest 400m and 200m on the weekend. There's no doubting her ability."
A short break now awaits the newest Group 1 winner but she'll be back in work in mid-July to prepare for her Sydney spring campaign.
"She's a little pumpkin, she gets fat looking at grass so I can't afford to give her too long,'' he said.
"If I'm going to have her ready in mid-September I can give her three weeks now."
It's likely talented stablemate Prince Of Boom will make an appearance in the Sydney spring but Heathcote said comeback sprinter Rothfire will likely focus on Melbourne where he feels the sprints will be a little less competitive.
Rothfire, last start third in the Stradbroke, was selected for the past two editions of the TAB Everest but injury got in his way both times and while he proved in his return in the winter that he can stand up to a preparation the trainer would like to strategically place him this spring.
"He's never going to be the horse he was once going to be,'' he said.
"It was a miracle to get him back to the races and a bigger miracle to have him competitive at Group 1 level.
"He doesn't cope well with rain affected tracks which is why he ran so well at Eagle Farm in the Stradbroke but he's shown he is back."
