Lazzura continued her outstanding campaign with another elite-level performance at Randwick on Saturday, capturing victory in The Invitation 2026 results and further strengthening her claims for a return trip to Melbourne next weekend’s Group 1 $1 million Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

The classy Chris Waller-trained mare justified her status as the $2.70 favourite in the rich fillies and mares feature, overcoming a wide and workmanlike run in the sixth edition of the Group 2 $2 million The Invitation (1400m) to defeat roughie Infancy with Verona Rose filling third place behind the multiple Group winner.

Lazzura is too classy in The Invitation ??@TommyBerry21 @cwallerracing pic.twitter.com/HMBuzde0eI

— 7HorseRacing ? (@7horseracing) October 24, 2026

Already a Group 1 winner of this autumn’s Coolmore Classic, Lazzura once again demonstrated her class and toughness, while bookmakers responded by trimming her Empire Rose Stakes 2026 odds from $15 into $11 with Ladbrokes as speculation grows over a possible seven-day backup.

Lazzura Too Strong in Randwick Feature

Despite pre-race uncertainty over tactics, Tommy Berry allowed the daughter of Snitzel to use her natural speed after she jumped sharply from the barriers.

The decision proved decisive.

Lazzura travelled strongly throughout before digging deep late to score by half a length in a slickly run edition of the race.

2026 The Invitation Results

Winning Time: 1:21.06
Last 600m: 34.56
Margins: ½ Length x Short Head

The victory was the mare’s eighth win from 20 starts and pushed her career earnings beyond an impressive $3.1 million.

Waller Camp Hails Another Class Display

Stable representative Darren Beadman was full of praise for the five-year-old, highlighting the quality she has repeatedly shown at the highest level.

“She’s the winner of the Coolmore, Group One. Her win the other day in the Golden Pendant, she’s just class,” he told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

Beadman admitted there was pre-race discussion around where Lazzura should settle after the jump.

“It was, do we go forward, or do we go back?,” he explained.

As it turned out, Berry’s decision to roll forward proved the winning move.

“But the way she jumped, Tommy made an executive decision and said, ‘Bang. She’s the best horse in the race’,” he said.

Despite using energy early, Lazzura was still able to conserve enough for a strong finish.

“She ran ten-and-a-half seconds there one furlong,” Beadman said.

“She really cut out some slick sectionals in the early stages, but once she got there, she gave herself a chance and switched off and she runs out a strong 1400.”

Empire Rose Now Under Consideration

Attention immediately shifted to what comes next for the in-form mare, with the Empire Rose Stakes emerging as a potential target.

Beadman indicated the final decision would rest with master trainer Chris Waller.

“I’ll leave that to the master himself,” he said.

“She did run in the Empire Rose down there last year [running fifth to Pride Of Jenni].”

Her big effort in The Invitation however leaves some question marks around a quick backup.

“It was a bit of a gut-buster,” Beadman admitted

“It was pretty slick time, and she was out on her feet the last twenty metres.”

Regardless of what she does next, Beadman feels the mare has already exceeded expectations this spring.

“Whatever she does is just a bonus,” he said.

“She’s a Group One-winning mare and she’s won her last two Group Twos.”

Berry Gets the Call Right

Winning jockey Tommy Berry admitted he was still weighing up race tactics right until the horses arrived at the barriers.

“I still had no idea what I was going to do going to the gates,” he said.

“I’ll ride her how she jumps and she pinged the lids.”

Although settling prominently is not usually her preferred pattern, Berry believed class ultimately carried her through.

“At the end of the day it’s not the way to ride her but she’s the best horse in the race,” he added.

“Good horses overcome adversity and that is what she did today.”

Long-Term Target Pays Off

Berry revealed connections had earmarked The Invitation as a key target for some time.

“This race has been a race they looked at for a long time,” he said.

“Ricky the owner was trying to book me five weeks out.

“He was obviously very keen on her.”

“A good effort.”

The rider also felt a mid-race breather helped the mare hold off her challengers late.

“I got a really easy time mid-race and that sort of helped her in the end there,” Berry said.

Another Group 1 Opportunity Awaits

With victories this campaign in both the Golden Pendant and The Invitation, Lazzura is enjoying the best season of her career and appears ready for another crack at Group 1 level.

The market has certainly taken notice.

Following Saturday’s win, Ladbrokes wound her Empire Rose Stakes quote into $11, placing her among the leading contenders for the Derby Day feature at Flemington.

Whether Chris Waller elects to back her up seven days later remains to be seen, but the manner of her Randwick victory once again confirmed she is one of Australia’s premier mares.

And if she makes the trip south, Lazzura looks poised to give the 2026 Empire Rose Stakes a serious shake.

Full The Invitation 2026 Results