The New Year will start in style as the $500,000 Perth Cup is returning to its traditional January 1 slot and it looks set to be a ripping contest. Western Australia’s premier race is a festive tradition and is widely regarded as one of the country’s toughest tests for thoroughbreds.
It is the highlight of the Perth Summer Racing Carnival and several thousand fans will pack into the grand old lady of Australian racecourses to witness the action. Here are the leading contenders to win the Grade II Perth Cup:
Pounamu
Check out the odds ahead of the big race and Pounamu will be among the favourites after he won the G1 Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic at Ascot on December 9. He defied odds of $21 to win the final G1 race of 2017, upsetting favourites Black Heart Bart and Tom Melbourne. Trainer Alan Matthews said Pounamu had been the biggest bridesmaid in Western Australia but had finally enjoyed a slice of decent luck. The win was a career highlight for the six-year-old gelding on his 37th race. He had won eight times before, but always in handicaps or conditions races, and connections will hope it spells glorious times ahead.
Material Man
An even better option for the Perth Cup could be Material Man, who also overcame long odds to finish second behind Pounamu in the million-dollar race on December 9. Material Man has 10 wins and 14 places from 18 starts and has enjoyed an extremely consistent career.
Ahead of the Magic Millions, trainer Justin Warwick wrote off his chances as he would be carrying too much weight, and said: “If he could run a nice fifth or sixth I would be happy. There is nothing else for him. We need to go into this to keep fit for the Perth Cup.” The Perth Cup has always been the goal for Material Man, but the fact that he finished second in a G1 race unsuited to his strengths shows how great his potential is.
Trap for Fools
Lindsey Smith’s four-year-old chestnut gelding heads into the Perth Cup in fine form after claiming a superb win in the $100,000 GA Towton Cup at Ascot last weekend. It was his sixth consecutive victory, all of them in Listed races, and he really is going from strength to strength. He has seven wins and one second placed finish in his last eight races and is sure to be among the frontrunners for the Perth Cup.
At the end of November he led from start to finish as he won the Listed Tattersall’s Cup, and was equally dominant in the Towton Cup. He loves this challenging course and should enjoy the trip, so he looks a great option to win the Perth Cup – provided he does not burn out before then. However, he will need to find a new jockey as Hong Kong based jockey Douglas Whyte will be barred from taking the saddle due to new rules from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Grey Lion
This import arrived in Australia last spring with a great reputation, but has failed to register a win since his move. He was ninth of 12 in the $250,000 Pakenham Cup last weekend, which was a real disappointment for his connections. However, he showed his potential when finishing third on heavy going in the $300,000 Ballarat Cup the previous week, and trainer Matt Cumani believes the stayer is getting better with racing.
He will be a danger at Ascot on New Year’s Day, but should be behind the aforementioned trio in the antepost betting, and is not as attractive a prospect as Trap for Fools or Material Man.
Silverstream
Adam Durrant’s Silverstream looks a really interesting long shot after winning the G3 AJ Scahill Stakes at Ascot at the weekend. The Perth Cup will represent a step up in distance and quality, but Silverstream has been on an upward curve and should enjoy another run out on this track. She showed guts and pace in claiming a thrilling win in the AJ Scahill Stakes, and could spring a surprise in the Perth Cup.
The rest
There will be a deep and stacked field for the Perth Cup thanks to the prize money and the prestige of the race. Potential contenders include Gatting, Royal Star, Touch of Silver, Very Tempting, Zarantz and Falcon Crest. The odds will shift dramatically in the buildup to the race, so be sure to keep an eye on the market and on Trap for Fools’ energy levels as he looks a great prospect.
Author bio
Martin Green is an experienced horse racing correspondent and tipster.
