Heath banks on longer-term investment

STAR mare Invest will continue her path towards Group glory when she races at Caulfield today.

Invest will have her second run this preparation in the Listed Race- Tech Classic (1600m).

Geelong trainer Heath Conners expects the mare to have taken a lot of benefit from her 13th place in the 1400m Blazer Stakes at Flemington.

‘‘ She is going good,’’ he said. ‘‘It was hard last start. She drew barrier 15 and they went at a slow pace.

‘‘She ran nearly the same sectional times as Mosheen, but when you give them eight or nine lengths head start, that is where you will f i nish because you are running the same times.

‘‘So that is why we have gone to the mile instead of 1400m.

‘‘She didn’t blow a candle out at Flemington. The distance didn’t bother her at all.’’

The Group 1-winning fouryear-old has trained on well, but Conners said the 1600m journey would still be a touch too sharp.

‘‘I don’t think she can win,’’ he said. ‘‘She is a lot different this preparation.

‘‘She has done really well since, but I think second-up at the mile probably won’t do much for her.

‘‘She is a dour mare. She wants that ground and that is what she shows.

‘‘I think she will go a bit under the radar in the run.

‘‘She will run a nice race without showing anyone up.

‘‘When you sit back and watch her run (on replay), it will be better than it looks.’’

Invest proved herself a genuine Group horse last preparation when she won the 2000m Australasian Oaks at Morphettville in April and the 2000m Roses at Doom- ben in May. Conners said he would rise Invest in distance as she continued towards her grand final in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 10.

‘‘All she has got to do in this race is show us something and hit the ground strong,’’ Conners said.

‘‘Then we go to the Group 1 mares’ race, the Myer Classic (1600m).

‘‘Then we can go to the Matriarch Stakes.’’