Elsewhere, the Perth Cup (Race 8) looks a competitive affair with Perfect Reflection looking to emulate the performance of Delicacy, who captured this race for the Grant & Alana Williams pairing in similar circumstances 12 months ago.
She’s been given an identical preparation through the major Group races but will spot 5kgs to most of the field and that may take its toll.
Despite finishing on the wrong end of the ledger when she was a heavily backed winner of the Ted van Heemst, we’re happy enough to take her on again this week.
The races presents as something of a Grand Final for JRA Trophy winner Kia Ora Koutou, one of five runners for the Durrant/Miller training partnership.
A former Victoria Derby placegetter, the JRA marked his first win in more than a year and despite the stable’s confidence we can’t help but feel he has been overrated by the market.
Instead, we were looking to the likes of last Saturday’s ATA Stakes winner Star Exhibit to have a strong hand in proceedings under Jarrad Noske.
While we’ve seen some early each-way interest at tasty prices for Fathoms of Gold, who revived memories of yesteryear in the Ted van Heemst after jockey Matthieu Autier opened up an enormous lead on the rest of the field.
Long-odds punters were dripping with excitement but sadly he couldn’t hold on, although there’s every chance the Frenchman will adopt the same tactics on the weekend and attempt to string the field right out.
My Tips:
- Perfect Reflection
- Kia Ora Koutou
- Neverland