Invader Zim atones for narrow first-up defeat with a tough effort to beat Kerguelen at Randwick

Invader Zim was beaten by the barest of margins first-up but bounced back with a gritty performance to score at Randwick on Saturday.

Invader Zim (right) edges out Kerguelen to score at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

Invader Zim, the horse that shares his name with a cartoon villain, conquered trying conditions to toss the highly-touted Kerguelen at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

On a day where it became a race to the outside fence, Kerrin McEvoy found the fast lane down the outside before holding off Godolphin’s challenger in the ATC Thank You Trainers Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m).

The Waller-trained Invader Zim was tough over the concluding stages to beat the James Cummings-trained Kerguelen ($2.60 fav) by a short head with the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-prepared Yorkshire ($2.90) another 1¾ lengths back.

“It was a tough battle for a horse having his fifth start,” McEvoy said.

“To his credit, he is improving all the time.

“It was a long last 100m but he was able find a bit more once he saw the Godolphin horse on his inside.”

Invader Zim fights hard and wins Race 8 at Randwick, a great ride from @KPMcEvoy! 👌 pic.twitter.com/XG1eKMEgne

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 27, 2024

Following the scratching of Vivy Air, Invader Zim was a big mover in TAB betting from $8 into $4.60 before saluting.

Invader Zim was slowly away and was a clear last in the early going as Yorkshire took up the early going.

McEvoy made the decision to begin edging Invader Zim to the outside towards the better going.

And with Kerguelen battling for a run to his inside, McEvoy was able to build some crucial momentum down the outside to hold on late.

McEvoy saw his win quickly soured after being hit with a careless riding charge shortly after the win.

Stewards brought McEvoy, Jason Collett and James McDonald in after the race to review the film and found the winning rider ‘didn’t make sufficient effort’ to prevent his mount from shifting in in the straight.

As a result Invader Zim crowded Yorkshire over the later stages.

McEvoy’s good record saw him escape with a three meeting ban that will begin after next Saturday’s meeting.

Meanwhile, Invader Zim’s performance backed up a superb first-up display earlier this month where the gelding was a whisker away from edging out Patchouli Dream.

“His first-up run was very good,” Waller said.

“He was a bit slow away and did a few little things wrong but that’s the horse he is.

“Once Kerrin got him to the outside he was in the right lane and James (McDonald) was in a little pocket which he doesn’t often get in.

“But it was a good duel to the finish, the last 100m was good fight, which was very exciting.”

It's @TommyBerry21 steering Cadetship to win the last race at Randwick for @cwallerracing! pic.twitter.com/AkNct44jPC

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 27, 2024

Invader Zim started his career in New Zealand but never had a start across the Tasman before arriving in Waller’s stable to race for Dungowan Racing.

He didn’t have a race start until his three-year-old season but is already beginning to build a competitive race record with two wins and two placings from five starts.

Waller is content to continue slowly bringing Invader Zim through his grades and expects he will one day be capable of racing in stakes grade.

“He is a genuine Saturday class horse that will keep going through the grades quietly,” Waller, who finished with a winning double after Cadetship won the last, said.

“He is probably a Listed type horse.

“There will be another race for him in three weeks, he’s a nice sprinter so we will keep fresh.”

Yorkshire’s co-trainer Tom Charlton wasn’t disappointed by his promising son of Snitzel following his first defeat at his second start.

The lightly-raced gelding found himself in front inside the final furlong before being swamped by his two main rivals over the concluding stages

“He’s an inexperienced horse and they had the drop on him a little bit,” Charlton said.

“Jason (Collett) really likes him and thinks it was a creditable effort from where he has come from.”

Kerguelen also lost no admirers in defeat and is still yet to finish worse than second in four career starts.

James McDonald and Godolphin were vying to complete a winning treble together with a trio of short priced favourites following earlier wins to Tarpaulin and Fleetwood.

McDonald still had a winning hat-trick after also saluting on Green Shadows in the Midway Handicap.

Originally published as Invader Zim atones for narrow first-up defeat with a tough effort to beat Kerguelen at Randwick