2011 Perth Cup Preview & Tips

2011 Perth Cup Preview

Ascot – Sat 31 December 2011

The major feature race in Australia on New Years Eve is the Group 2 $400,000 Golden River Dvl Perth Cup on a 9 race program at Ascot on Saturday. There is a full field of 16 plus 4 emergencies for the 2400 metre quality handicap. The topweight with 57kg is God Has Spoken who could only manage 12^th in this race last year. Fourteen of the 20 acceptances are on the limit weight of 52kg, and many of the favoured runners have drawn out wide. Trainers Neville Parnham, Simon Miller and Adam Durrant have two runners each, while Grant Williams has 4 runners including mares Western Jewel and Tranquility who ran 4^th and 6^th in this race last year.

Runners in the 2011 Golden River Dvl Perth Cup

Kincaple ($4.50) is a six-year-old Pentire gelding trained by Mark Reed who has had 3 races since a two-month break and has shown improvement with each run. He ran 3.8 lengths 9^th of 13 in the Group 1 Kingston Town over 1800m on 3 December after being last most of the way, then ran 1.3 lengths 2^nd to God Has Spoken in the Group 2 CB Cox Stakes over 2100m on 17 December. Meets that horse 1kg better at the weights but has drawn out in barrier 18. Should be at peak fitness for this.

Tranquility ($7.50) is a Redoubte’s Choice mare from the Grant Williams stable that ran 6^th in this race last year. She ran 6^th in the Kingston Town on 3 December then finished 4^th in the Cox Stakes and meets winner God Has Spoken 2.5kg better at the weights. Is an honest mare who is never far away. Drawn in barrier 8 and has jockey William Pike. Definite chance.

Western Jewel ($8.50) is another runner from the Grant Williams stable. The five-year-old Jeune Mare finished 4^th in this race last year and comes off a last-start win over 2200m here on 24 December. That was a much weaker field but she won by 1.5 lengths and that was her 3^rd win over 2200m. Drawn wide in barrier 16 but is a very real threat on the limit weight of 52kg.

God Has Spoken ($10) is topweight and has drawn awkwardly in barrier 13, but the Neville Parnham trained horse has peaked at the right time. He won the Group 2 CB Cox Stakes over 2100m by 1.3 lengths on 17 December where he raced to the lead at the top of the straight and kept going strongly to the line. One for the trifectas.

Saint Encosta ($11) is a NSW galloper who has had 3 runs at Ascot. His best performance there was a nose 2^nd to Veracious over 2100m in the Listed JRA Trophy on 3^rd December. That was followed with 6^th in the Cox Stakes. Has drawn barrier 1 and has the limit weight.

Senhor Da Gama ($14) is a Commands gelding trained by Simon Miller. He won by 1.8 lengths over 2200m here on 26 November in a Bm68+ for three-year-olds and up, then ran a length 2^nd over 2200m here on 10 December. Looks like an improving horse and has a win and two 2nds from 4 runs at this track. Drawn well in barrier 4 and drops a lot in weight from recent runs so is a chance at good odds.

Moonlight Bay ($15) is a four-year-old Catbird mare who looked good winning by a nose in the Listed WA St Leger over 2100m here on 17 December. She got the upper hand in the final stages and looks as if the 2400m will suit. It will be no surprise if she runs well here.

Veracious ($16) won the Listed JRA Trophy over 2200m here on 3 December, then ran 4^th in the Listed WA St Leger on 17 December. Came from well back in that race and will appreciate the extra distance.

Jo’s Tips – Perth Cup

- Top Tip: (16.) Western Jewel
- Danger: (12.) Moonlight Bay
- Trifecta: (1.) God Has Spoken