Races

Runner By Runner: Perth Cup

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

1. Truly Great (60kg)

Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams
Jockey: William Pike
Barrier: 12

Quickly becoming the poster boy for WA racing and likely to fly the flag on the East Coast from 2021 onwards as he tackles bigger and better things. Barnstorming Group 1 winner in the Kingston Town when exploding at the 400 from three deep with cover. Effortless winner at 2100m in the Van Heemst when toying with Trap For Fools. Bred to stay 3200, has the turn of foot of a miler and even with the weight looks the one.

2. Trap For Fools (59kg)

Trainer: Lindsey Smith
Jockey: Brad Rawiller
Barrier: 14

True Blue Aussie Battler and long-time Cult Hero who may well be at his swansong. Is placed at Group 2 level at 2500m in the Moonee Valley Cup and at Listed level at 2400m in the Mornington Cup but will need to pull out something special to turn the tables on Truly Great from the Van Heemst. Gets 1kg weight swing for a 1.8L defeat which brings them closer together however doesn’t quite look enough.

3. Princess Jenni (56kg)

Trainer: David Brideoake
Jockey: Jye Mcneil
Barrier: 2

X-Factor horse in the Cup: Winner of the 2019 Group 1 Schweppes Oaks in South Australia. Three starts ago won the Bendigo Cup at Group 3 level at 2400m before lumping 61kg in the Pakenham Cup over 2500m and 62kg when narrowly defeated last start at Flemington over 2600m. 12 of her last 15 outings have been at Group level, including contesting 6 Group 1 events. Stays all day, can hold a position from the gate and looks astutely placed.

4. Neufbosc (54kg)

Trainer: Neville Parnham
Jockey: Chris Parnham
Barrier: 4

Newcomer to WA who has thrived since joining Neville Parnham. Group 3 winner at 2400m and Group 1 placed at 2400m in France before heading across to Australia. Ran in the 2019 Melbourne Cup so the trip is no worries and seems to peak off the 7 day back-up. Destroyed them in the ATA Stakes and ran serious time in doing so. Live chance and the draw makes him a serious danger to Truly Great.

5. Platoon (54kg)

Trainer: Neville Parnham
Jockey: Jason Brown
Barrier: 10

On trial at the trip again after having run a distant 8th in the 2019 WATC Derby at 2400m. Follows the natural progression from Northerly Stakes to Lee Steere to Railway to Kingston Town to Van Heemst to Perth Cup and has been competitive at every outing this campaign. Ran third to Truly Great and Trap For Fools at WFA in the Van Heemst and gets considerable weight swings on the pair. Draw makes it harder but he is honest.

6. Adornment (53kg)

Trainer: Adam Durrant
Jockey: Joseph Azzopardi
Barrier: 16

Hadn’t won a race since the Ascot 1000 Guineas in March 2019 as a 3 year old filly until she finally broke through some 13 starts later in a lowly 66+ at Ascot in December. Backed it up and won again with a gritty on speed performance in another 66+ ratings race. Way outside the handicap (like many) but can offset the wide gate by racing forward to sit in behind Trap For Fools.

7. Cambist (53kg)

Trainer: Robyn Lockwood
Jockey: Jason Whiting
Barrier: 14

Is a lightly raced 4 year old with plenty of ability and potential but this may be coming a preparation or two too soon. Is having her 11th start and third preparation inside a year having gone through the 3 year old features in March/April, freshened for the Belmont winter series in June/July and now up again for the end of the Summer Carnival. Likely settles near last and doesn’t look suited.

8. Dark Musket (53kg)

Trainer: Graeme Ballantyne
Jockey: Craig Staples
Barrier: 9

9 year old veteran who contests his 5th Perth Cup (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020). Last win was in the 2018 WA Cup at 3200m and has come right back down in the ratings from a career peak of a m85. Runs the trip but looks out classed at this level these days. The newly inaugurated 3200m race at Albany looks a great chance of him to break back into the winner’s circle.

9. Double Digit (53kg)

Trainer: Ashley Maley
Jockey: Ryan Hill
Barrier: 13

Big query on his staying ability at 2400m, especially having drawn a horror alley. Yet to step past 2200m in his life and while he has had a break out preparation as an emerging stayer, the 2400m is a different scenario. Has to be saved up for one last crack at them and will need everything to go his way.

10. Freez’emoff (53kg)

Trainer: Graeme Hammarquist
Jockey: Kyra Yuill
Barrier: 6

This year’s Geraldton Cup winner who comes into this fourth up in the preparation. Yet to finish within 4.5L of the winner in the campaign with runs at 1600, 2100 and 2200. Looked to be travelling well enough in the Towton Cup when held up noticeably in the home straight. Kyra Yuill searches for her second Perth Cup and the Hammarquist’s know how to get them fit.

11. He’s A Parker (53kg)

Trainer: Hec McLaren
Jockey: Shaun McGruddy
Barrier: 5

Burst onto the scene in 2019 with wins in the SW Autumn Cup and Pinjarra Cup with form alongside East Coast Group 1 winner Come Play With Me. Since then however has had 21 starts for only 5 minor placings. Draws a gate, gets a soft run and is a winner at 2300m and placed at 3200m but not going well enough.

12. Juicing Carrots (53kg)

Trainer: Raquel Reid
Jockey: Jerry Noske
Barrier: 1

Simply thrives on racing. First raced this ‘preparation’ on 18 January 2020 and apart from two 6 week freshens has raced throughout the last 12 months, totalling 24 runs. Grows a leg off 7 days, ran extremely well when copping significant interference last week in the ATA Stakes but will need to improve again. Gets the right run but isn’t an easy horse to ride.

13. Midnight Blue (53kg)

Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams
Jockey: Patrick Carbery
Barrier: 3

Emerging stayer who is quickly starting to put it all together. Comes out of ratings races and far inferior form lines to the top guns at the head of the weight scale but his last two have been nothing short of enormous. Three deep the trip with weight from an impossible gate when nosed out by Adornment before charging through the line with 60.5kg last start from an impossible position. Beware the up and comer.

14. Paddy’s Shadow (53kg)

Trainer: Raquel Williams
Jockey: Shaun O’Donnell
Barrier: 11

Does all her racing from back in the field so the barrier is of no concern. Last raced at Weight For Age conditions in the Van Heemst when carrying 57kg as a m79, ran out of her skin to get within 4.7L of Truly Great and Trap For Fools but paid the penalty for it, copping 2 ratings points for finishing a distant fourth. Far better suited in a handicap but will need a lot of luck.

15. Taxagano (53kg)

Trainer: Fred Kersley
Jockey: Jade McNaught
Barrier: 7

Gets in perfectly on the minimum after having bled ratings points at his last five outings since winning the Northerly first-up in a shock upset. Finished 2.9L behind Neufbosc and gets 1.5kg swing on him, but more importantly gets 4kg on Utgard Loki. Looking for 2400 the way he is racing.

16. Utgard Loki (53kg)

Trainer: Justin Warwick
Jockey: Lucy Warwick
Barrier: 8

Hails from the renowned staying yard of JT Warwick and is peaking at the perfect time. When you break down Justin Warwick’s training statistics his highest winning distance strike rate (17%) is with horses beyond 2000m and his highest winning days since last run strike rate is on the back-up (15%). Tough, on speed and profiles perfectly.

SELECTION: Truly Great

Has to lump 60kg, has to overcome barrier 12 but looks a live hope for races like the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup in 2021 and seems to get better every time he goes to the races. Only horse anyone has wanted to be on since his trials back in September and it is hard to see anything holding out his brilliance late.

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