The Invitationis avery new addition to the NSW Spring Racing Carnival having only been announced in July 2021 along with a host of other enhancements to the NSW Spring Racing Carnival. The 1st running was at the Royal Randwick,in October the same year, 2021.
| ➡️ The Invitation Distance | 1,400m |
| 🛣️Race Track | Randwick Racecourse |
| 📅Date | Saturday 28th October 2023 |
| 💰Prize Money | $2m AUD |
| 🐎Weight Class | 3 YOs and over |
| 🏇Last Year Winner | Promise of Success |
Before getting into the details of the race, it is worth noting the significance of the announcement to Spring Carnival Racing in NSW, as there were also large increases in prize money for a number races including the Group 2 2000m Hill Stakes and the Group 1 1600m Geroge Main Stakes both doubling from $500,000 to $1m. But the icing on the cake was The Invitation was a prize purse of $2m. There is now a spring program of 8 straight weeks of $1m or more prize money races.
The Invitation is 1,400 metres for 3 year olds and up, both fillies and mares under set weights and penalties. However, this is not a Group 1 race, what makes this event different is that it is Invitation Only for horses from Australia and New Zealand.
The Invitation is made to 12 starters by a panel under the guidance of Racing NSW. Up to 2 emergency runners can also be declared. The prize money on offer certainly helps in attracting top-class horses, trainers and jockeys to New South Wales rather than participate in the Racing Victoria spring program, a battle that continues to develop.
