ACCELERATE might have lost the battle Thursday night but he looks primed to win the war on the Saturday afternoon.

The $5.7 million earner takes on 11 rivals in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park this evening (10.36pm Irish time).

The 10-time winner drew post five in the nine-furlong stakes, attracting 9/5 odds on the morning line, as he takes his final bow in his accomplished career. The son of Lookin At Lucky will go to stud at Lane’s End Farm after the race.

City Of Light offers the biggest challenge to Accelerate.

The five-year-old is the last to beat the older male champion, when taking him down by a neck in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap back in April. Since then, Accelerate ran the table, winning four consecutive Grade 1 stakes races while City Of Light finished third behind Accelerate in May, second while sprinting seven furlongs in the Forego at Saratoga and winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile over Pegasus runners Seeking The Soul and Bravazo.

Win, lose or draw, City Of Light will share a van with Accelerate to Lane’s End Farm. Frankie Dettori rides the Mexican champion Kukulkan.

TURF INVITATIONAL

Irish-bred Magic Wand returns for her first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf to take on nine rivals in the inaugural running of the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (9.57pm).

The four-year-old filly get 7lb allowance for running without Lasix. Both Magic Wand and Aerolithe receive a total of 12lbs from the other runners. Wayne Lordon takes the mount on the daughter of Galileo.

Japanese-bred Yoshida, fourth behind Accelerate in the Classic, is the morning line favourite for trainer Bill Mott.

Florent Geroux rides the Japanese filly Aerolithe while Frankie Dettori has picked up the ride on Delta Prince. Grade 1 Shadwell Mile winner Next Shares won the month in the San Gabriel Stakes and could be a danger.