The Invitation
Looking for this year’s The Invitation betting odds, race form and tips? The expert tipsters at Neds have put together everything you need to know on the race.
The Invitation is a recent addition to the lucrative The Everest Carnival in Sydney during the spring. The $2 million Special Condition event for fillies and mares took place for the first time in 2021 and was won by the Brad Widdup-trained Icebath.
The Invitation officially gained Group 2 status in 2024 the same year the $20 million The Everest became a Group 1 event.
The set weights plus penalties showdown runs alongside the $2 million Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and the new look Group 2 $1 million Callander-Presnell (1600m) – a race formerly known as the Stan Fox Stakes that now replaces the defunct Bondi Stakes – in late October on the same day Melbourne hosts the $5 million W.S. Cox Plate (2040m).
Run over 1400m, The Invitation race features 12 fillies and mares exclusively invited to take part in the event by a panel selected by Racing NSW officials.
The form out of the first running of The Invitation was franked in 2021 with the winning mare Icebath racing second next start in the Group 1 Kennedy Cantala (1600m) at Flemington – an event now run as the Champions Mile. She also returned in the autumn of 2022 to finish third in both the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) during an excellent campaign.
The 2021 The Invitation runner-up Rocha Clock further franked the form finishing second at her next run in the $500,000 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m), while the third place-getter Forbidden Love came back in 2022 to win both the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes and the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes the next autumn.
The Invitation 2024 – Fast Facts
- Race Day: Saturday, October 26th, 2024
- Track Location: Randwick Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Right-handed
- Race Distance: 1,400 metres
- Weight Class: Set weights and Penalties
- Qualification: Fillies & Mares – Invitation Only
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 2
- Operator: Australian Turf Club
- Prize Purse: $2,000,000
- Inaugural Race: 2021
- 2024 The Invitation Winner: Belclare
The Invitation 2024 RESULTS
The official 2024 The Invitation results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, October 26th, 2024.
- #3 Belclare
- #2 Magic Time
- #7 Makarena
The Bjorn Baker-trained Kiwi expat Belclare ($26) found her grove down under with the New Zealand two-time Group 1 winning daughter of Per Incanto charging home a length clear of the beaten favourite Magic Time in an enormous 2024 The Invitation upset result.
The Invitation Betting 2024
There are many different ways to bet on The Invitation, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type Of Bet In This Year’s The Invitation |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s The Invitation. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s The Invitation. Pays less than a win bet, but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in The Invitation, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within The Invitation, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within The Invitation to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within The Invitation to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within The Invitation to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from The Invitation, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet On The Invitation In 2024
Join up at neds.com.au
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out the form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
The Invitation 2025 Odds
Early market betting odds on the 2025 The Invitation will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit neds.com.au.
WHICH HORSE WILL WIN THE invitation in 2024
Which horse will win the 2024 The Invitation comes down to a number of key form factors including the barriers, form over the 1400m distance, record the Sydney way of going and their previous Group race experience in the lead-up.
When selecting The Invitation winner it is also important to consider:
- Flight Fillies – Any The Invitation runners that performed well in the fillies’ lead-up, the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m), could make a nice bet coming down in distance at the same track.
- Group 1 Stars – Mares with previous Group 1 winning form over the 1400m in events including Sydney’s Surround Stakes and Melbourne’s Futurity Stakes over the autumn are likely to perform well in The Invitation race that spring if invited to run.
- McEvoy Factor – Jockey Kerrin McEvoy has ridden the first three The Invitation winning mares.
The Invitation FAVOURITES 2024
The favourites in The Invitation betting for 2024 include Chris Waller’s Group 1 winning Zoustar mare Zougotcha, her last start Group 3 Nivision winning stablemate Olentia, and Hellbent mare Magic Time coming off a Group 2 Gilgai Stakes fourth fresh at Flemington.
There was a notable upset in 2022 with Promise Of Success winning at The Invitation odds of $26 and again in 2024 with Belclare also winning at $26.
The Invitation Field 2024
The official The Invitation 2024 field of final acceptances is released by Racing NSW the Tuesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The 2024 The Invitation field features a typically top-class field of a dozen invitees led in betting by the Grahame Begg-trained Magic Time, third in the race last year, racing second up off a fourth fresh in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes and Chris Waller’s last start Group 3 The Nivision winner Olentia.
The Invitation 2024 Tips
Favourite: #2 Magic Time ($3.70 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Best Bet: #1 Zougotcha ($3.90 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Best Roughie: #4 Royal Merchant ($19 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Check in here the week of the race for our exclusive 2024 The Invitation tips and betting selections, with a full tipping preview also available on the Neds Blog.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2024 SPRING CHAMPION STAKES DAY PREVIEW & TIPS
The Invitation Race Day 2024
The $2 million Invitation Stakes race takes place on Spring Champions Stakes Day 2024 on Saturday the 26th of October, 2024 in Sydney on the same date as Melbourne’s Cox Plate Day. The other key feature races on the program include the:
- Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m),
- Group 2 $1 million Callander-Presnell (1600m) – formerly known as the Stan Fox Stakes,
- Group 3 $750,000 Craven Plate (1800m), and the
- $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m).
The Invitation 2024 BARRIER DRAW
The official 2024 The Invitation barrier draw takes place the week of the race and will be published in our above The Invitation Field section.
The inaugural The Invitation winner Icebath won the race from barrier 12 of 12.
In 2022 The Invitation winner Promise Of Success won from gate 9 of 12.
The 2023 The Invitation winner Espiona won from barrier 8 of 12.
The 2024 The Invitation winner Belclare won from barrier 2 of 12.
The Invitation 2024 Weights
The race is run with set weights plus penalties. Final weights will be declared by 4 PM, Tuesday the 22nd of October, 2024. The official The Invitation 2024 weights on the final runners will be published in our above The Invitation Field section.
Belclare (59.5kg in 2024) was the last topweight or equal topweight to win The Invitation.
2024 The Invitation Topweights:
- #1 Zougotcha (59.5kg)
- #2 Magic Time (59.5kg)
- #3 Belclare (59.5kg)
The Invitation 2024 Acceptances
2024 The Invitation final acceptances close at 10am on Tuesday the 22nd of October, 2024 and will be published in our above The Invitation Field section.
The Invitation jockeys 2024
Riders must be announced by 12 PM on Wednesday the 23rd of October, 2024. The official 2024 The Invitation jockeys will be published in our above The Invitation Field section.
The inaugural The Invitation winning jockey was Kerrin McEvoy aboard Icebath in 2021. Kerrin McEvoy made it back-to-back wins when he rode upset winner Promise Of Success to victory in 2022 and then won the race for a third time in 2023 on Espiona.
Tyler Schiller won the 2024 The Invitation on Belclare in an upset.
The Invitation Scratchings 2024
2024 The Invitation scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, the 26th of October, 2024.
Strict conditions apply to the scratching of horses from the event. Any mare accepting an invitation for the race may only scratch from the event with a certified veterinary certificate approved by Racing NSW and confirmed by Racing NSW’s industry veterinarian, or otherwise as approved by the Racing NSW
The Invitation PRIZE MONEY 2024
The 2024 The Invitation prize money is set at a total of $2,000,000 including $1,000,000 to The Invitation winner. Prize money is paid right down to 12th place meaning all starters in the event take home a minimum of $20,000 in stakes.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,000,000 |
| 2nd | $400,000 |
| 3rd | $200,000 |
| 4th | $100,000 |
| 5th | $50,000 |
| 6th | $40,000 |
| 7th | $30,000 |
| 8th | $30,000 |
| 9th | $30,000 |
| 10th | $30,000 |
| 11th | $20,000 |
| 12th | $20,000 |
The Invitation Race Number 2024
The 2024 The Invitation race number is scheduled as Randwick Race 8 at 4:45pm (AEDT) on Saturday the 26th of October 2024. There are ten races in total that day at Randwick Racecourse.
The Invitation 2024 Form Guide
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2024 The Invitation Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2024 THE INVITATION FORM GUIDE
the invitation LIVE 2024
You can watch or listen to the 2024 The Invitation live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing NSW
The Invitation winners
Winners of The Invitation starting with the event’s inaugural edition in 2021 are displayed in the table below.
| YEAR | WINNER | 2ND | 3RD | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Belclare | Magic Time | Makarena | 1:20.74 |
| 2023 | Espiona | Ruthless Dame | Magic Time | 1:21.74 |
| 2022 | Promise Of Success | Electric Girl | Nimalee | 1:25.05 |
| 2021 | Icebath | Rocha Clock | Forbidden Love | 1:22.37 |