Garry Selkrig’s sensational recent run continued on Sunday night when versatile star Invictus Rising completed an impressive build-up to this weekend’s Group 1 Sale Cup heats in the Rotti Security Sale Distance Championship (650m).
In completing a Sale 650m hat-trick in the $10,000 to-the-winner Sale Cup lead-up, Invictus Rising incredibly gave Devon Meadows-based Selkrig eight winners from his last nine starters.
After a near-record 36.72sec heat victory, Jarick Bale (Box 1), trained by Mark Delbridge, was a dominant $1.60 favourite in the Distance decider, with Invictus Rising (Box 6), which won the other heat in 37.12sec, the $5.30 second elect.
After settling second behind Aston Shine ($21.80), Invictus Rising dashed clear entering the home straight and held Omega Tyson ($12.30) at bay in 36.99sec, continuing the powerhouse sprinter’s seamless transition to the middle distance ranks.
“Over the 650m he has the chance to get up near the front early and he’s getting stronger and stronger with each run up there at Sale.”
“It hasn’t really surprised me,” said Selkrig.
“He’s always had lots of ability and is always storming home over ‘the 500’.
“Over the 650m he has the chance to get up near the front early and he’s getting stronger and stronger with each run up there.
“I went there thinking if ‘the one’ (Jarick Bale) makes a mistake he’s going to be in trouble and he did have excuses but I don’t know if he would’ve beaten my dog anyway.
“The race panned out how I thought it would. ‘The five’ (Aston Shine) went straight to the fence, which suited me because my dog needs something out in front of him. He needs something to chase.”
WATCH: Invictus Rising (6) improved his unbeaten Sale 650m record to three from three when winning Sunday’s Distance Championship in a BON 36.99sec.
While Invictus Rising, the winner of 16 from 36, remains undefeated in three Sale 650m assignments, improving on the clock in each run, the son of Invictus Rapid doesn’t currently rate a mention in TAB’s ‘Pre Noms’ Sale Cup market (link below), much to Selkrig’s chagrin.
“People don’t seem to pick him – he definitely slips under the radar,” Selkrig quipped.
“I’m hoping he can draw a decent box in the heats – he’s overdue.
“He’s a bit quirky and needs to be familiar with where he’s racing and with his three wins at Sale he knows the place pretty well now and he’ll be stronger again next week.”
Click HERE for TAB’s ‘All In’ Sale Cup market
With Invictus Rising leading the way, Selkrig’s boutique Devon Meadows kennel is firing on all cylinders.
“Brother Bearing has won his last two races and is in a final at Ballarat on Wednesday which he’ll probably win,” Selkrig said.
“Hazey Roy has come back from an amputated toe to win four in a row and Lucy’s Villa ran 29.36sec at Sandown last Thursday, coming off a 20.12sec win at Healesville. I’m still shaking my head!
“The one that got beaten was Invictus Ethan. It was $1.30 off Box 1 at Warragul and I thought it was a certainty but it missed the start.
“I took them to Des Fegan (veterinary surgeon) to get their bloods done and I said you’ve got four last start winners here!”
Sunday’s Valda Clavarino Memorial (650m) also featured a number of prominent Sale Cup contenders, with $15 outsider Orca, trained by Steve Nagy, upsetting Andrea Dailly’s dual G1 winner Gypsy Wyong ($1.60) in 37.17sec.
