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The Group 2 $2 million The Invitation race is recently created Special Condition (invitation-only) race for fillies and mares held at Randwick in Sydney on the same day as Melbourne's coveted Cox Plate.
The Invitation News
The $2 million The Invitation is a special racing event contested at Royal Randwick on Spring Champion Stakes Day in late October as part of the lucrative The Everest Carnival.
It officially gained Group 2 status in 2024.
2025 The Invitation Results
Stay tuned to view the official 2025 The Invitation results and finishing order this spring.
- 1st: No. 1 Stefi Magnetica ($3.90)
- 2nd: No. 9 Gerringong
- 3rd: No. 5 Gangsta Granny
Winning Margin: 0.33 lengths
Winning Time: 1:22.76
Bjorn Baker’s Doncaster Mile winning mare Stefi Magnetica ($3.90) returned to form in style thanks to a peach of a ride from Jason Collett to head the 2025 The Invitation results Randwick. Coming from well back in the field with a big run down the outside, she delivered a thrilling late burst to claim the $2 million feature showing off her class to take her career earnings up over $7 million.
The Invitation 2025 Results
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1st
1. Stefi Magnetica (5)
J: Jason Collett 59.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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2nd
9. Gerringong (8)
J: Nash Rawiller 57kg
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
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3rd
5. Gangsta Granny (10)
J: Tim Clark 58kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
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4th
2. Manaal (4)
J: Tommy Berry 59kg
T: Michael Freedman |
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5th
12. Bauhinia (3)
J: Chad Schofield 57kg
T: Lee & Cherie Curtis |
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6th
4. Firestorm (7)
J: Regan Bayliss 58.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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7th
11. Overriding (1)
J: Ashley Morgan 57kg
T: Nathan Doyle |
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8th
3. Miss Roumbini (6)
J: Adam Hyeronimus 58.5kg
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
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9th
6. Oh Diamond Lil (2)
J: Rachel King 58kg
T: David Pfieffer |
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10th
8. Dark Glitter (11)
J: Tyler Schiller 57kg
T: Mick Van Gestel |
Sydney’s marquee race for fillies and mares, The Invitation is contested over 1400m by a 12-starter field of female gallopers that have been exclusively invited to take part.
The inaugural edition of The Invitation ran in 2022, and it is a set weights plus penalties race.
Each year Racing NSW convene a panel of racing experts to decide on which fillies and mares from around Australia and New Zealand are invited to take part in the race.
The Invitation runs alongside the Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and the recently renamed Group 2 $1 million Callander-Presnell (1600m), a race formerly known as the Stan Fox Stakes that has now replaced the defunct Bondi Stakes.
The meeting runs on the same day as Melbourne’s Cox Plate Day card at The Valley.
The 2021 The Invitation form was franked with the inaugural winner Icebath going on to run a next-up second in that year’s Group 1 Kennedy Cantala (1600m) – now known as the Champions Mile. She also returned the following autumn to run third in both the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).
The 2021 runner-up Rocha Clock further franked the form also finishing second next-up in the Hot Danish Stakes, while the third-placed Forbidden Love took out the 2022 Group 1 Canterbury Stakes – George Ryder Stakes double next prep.
In 2023 Kerrin McEvoy made it a three-from-three clean-sweep with his win aboard Espiona to be the only The Invitation winning jockey from the race’s opening three editions.
Mares out of The Invitation race may also opt to back-up at Rosehill on The Five Diamonds Day in the Group 2 $500,000 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m).
Belclare (2024) was the last mare to complete The Invitation – Hot Danish Stakes double, while Magic Time ran second in both events that year.
The 2023 The Invitation form was franked with third placegetter Magic Time winning the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in Melbourne at her next start as well as the following autumn’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes back in Sydney.
Magic Time returned to run second in the 2024 The Invitation and also gain a start in the 2025 $20 million The Everest race field.
In 2025 Stefi Magnetica won The Invitation after claiming the autumn’s Doncaster Mile.
The fifth running of the now Group 2 2025 The Invitation took place at Randwick on Saturday, October 25th, 2025 as part of the Spring Champion Stakes Day card in Sydney and saw Bjorn Baker’s Group 1 winning mare Stefi Magnetica ($3.90) run over the top of her rivals late in a class effort. Â
| The Invitation 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday, October 25th, 2025 |
| Track: | Royal Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1400m |
| Race Type: | Set Weights + Penalties – Fillies & Mares |
| Status: | Group 2 – Special Condition (Invitation Only) |
| Prize Money: | $2,000,000 |
2025 The Invitation Betting Odds
The Invitation 2025 racing odds will be available here at Races.com.au as soon as The Invitation race betting opens this spring.
There was a notable upset in 2022 with Promise Of Success winning at The Invitation odds of $26.
Another blowout price was on offer for the 2024 The Invitation winner with Bjorn Baker’s Belclare saluting at $26 in the markets.
2025 The Invitation Tips
Stay tuned for our insider The Invitation 2025 betting tips and exotic Randwick, spring racing selections on the now Group 2 feature race of the season in Sydney for fillies and mares.
To Win: No. 2 Manaal
MANAAL (5) is favourite for The Invitation but is still at a backable price. A few shape up as winning hopes but I’m not going to jump off this in-form Michael Freedman trained Tassort four-year-old just yet as she chases a hat-trick. Beat Dark Glitter home with 58kg two back in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) before going back-to-back with an excellent Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) win at Rosehill at her latest by nearly a length. Drawn another good gate with Tommy Berry staying aboard, she showed she could hit the front a fair way out and sustain the run last time out and that bodes well for this over the same distance. Her Randwick strike-rate is imposing (9:4-0-2), she’s a progressive type who has really lifted a gear this prep and it’s tough to see many in this field reverse the result. Holding form and racing with confidence, she’s right in the mix once more.
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4th
2. Manaal (4)
J: Tommy Berry 59kg
T: Michael Freedman |
2025 The Invitation Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 THE INVITATION FORM GUIDE
2025 The Invitation Field
The spring’s The Invitation field features an exclusive line-up of 12 fillies and mares from around Australia and New Zealand invited by a panel convened by Racing NSW to contest the $2 million showdown.
Fillies and mares with a proven Group 1 record in earlier races including the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) for fillies held earlier in October and the autumn’s Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) will make a good lead-up into The Invitation field.
The Invitation 2025 field will be confirmed on the Wednesday of race week and published below as soon as available.
The 2025 The Invitation final field features a capacity line-up of quality mares including the autumn’s Doncaster Mile winner Stefi Magnetica carrying the 59.5kg topweight, Michael Freedman’s in form Group 2 Golden Pendant champ Manaal chasing a hat-trick, and Gangsta Granny coming off a Group 3 The Nivison win.
Click here to read more on the key mares in The Invitation 2025 field and betting markets.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 954x8612x4 | STEFI MAGNETICA | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 6 | 59.5kg | Â | Â | 116 |
| 2 | 13x955x811 | MANAAL | Michael Freedman | Tommy Berry | 5 | 59kg | Â | Â | 109 |
| 3 | 211x311x22 | MISS ROUMBINI | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Adam Hyeronimus | 7 | 58.5kg | Â | Â | 105 |
| 4 | x120x37x39 | FIRESTORM (NZ) | Chris Waller | Regan Bayliss | 8 | 58.5kg | Â | Â | 103 |
| 5 | 31x113x231 | GANGSTA GRANNY | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tim Clark | 11 | 58kg | Â | Â | 102 |
| 6 | 21×1921110 | OH DIAMOND LIL | David Pfieffer | Ms Rachel King | 3 | 58kg | Â | Â | 98 |
| 7 | 74720×1112 | MONTE SUPREME | Bjorn Baker | Kerrin McEvoy | 10 | 57kg | Â | Â | 98 |
| 8 | 5339×52557 | DARK GLITTER | Mike Van Gestel | Tyler Schiller | 12 | 57kg | Â | Â | 94 |
| 9 | 7x223x4429 | GERRINGONG | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Nash Rawiller | 9 | 57kg | Â | Â | 94 |
| 10 | 7x18562x83 | MORE TERRITORIES | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Dylan Gibbons | 13 | 57kg | Â | Â | 94 |
| 11 | x8054x7275 | OVERRIDING | Nathan Doyle | Ashley Morgan | 2 | 57kg | Â | Â | 88 |
| 12 | 16x10x5520 | BAUHINIA | Lee & Cherie Curtis | Chad Schofield | 4 | 57kg | Â | Â | 80 |
| 13e | 21x255x371 | MODELLA | Lee & Cherie Curtis | Â | 1 | 57kg | Â | Â | 76 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The Invitation History
The Invitation ran for the first time during the 2021 Sydney Spring Racing Carnival and was won by the Brad Widdup-trained Sacred Falls five-year-old Icebath.
Icebath returned to defend her title in 2022 but missed the kick and eventually ran ninth with the race won in an upset by Promise Of Success at $26.
In 2023 Espiona became the third The Invitation winner and was ridden by Kerrin McEvoy who also rode the first two winners of the event.
The 2024 The Invitation winner Belclare scored a one-length upset as a $26 outsider for trainer Bjorn Baker despite being a two-time Group 1 winner in New Zealand.
The 2025 The Invitation winner, Stefi Magnetica, returned to form in style with a strong late burst to salute for the first time since her Doncaster Mile win in the autumn to hand trainer Bjorn Baker back-to-back wins in the event.
| YEAR | WINNER | 2ND | 3RD | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Stefi Magnetica | Gerringong | Gangsta Granny | 1:22.76 |
| 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 |
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