Grant & Alana Williams’ class mare Perfect Reflection has opened the firm favourite in 2016 Ted Van Heemst Stakes betting to take out the Perth feature formerly run as the C.B. Cox Stakes at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday.
Jockey Peter Hall (pictured on Delicacy) rides second favourite Neverland in Saturday’s 2016 Ted Van Heemst Stakes in Perth. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
Due to run as Ascot Race 7 at 4:30pm (WA time), this summer’s $250,000 Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) field originally attracted a final field of 14 hopefuls.
The line-up for the traditional Perth Cup lead-up race is now down to 13 after the early scratching of Bedamijo (14).
Firming favourite in the updated Ted Van Heemst – CB Cox Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.10 to return to winning form is four-year-old More Than Ready mare Perfect Reflection.
Winner of last year’s Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m), she comes off a third in that same race when beaten home by Stratum Star (1st) and Scales Of Justice (2nd) on December 3.
Prior to that she ran third in the Railway Stakes over the Ascot mile and won the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) with William Pike aboard.
Pike continues his gun association with the $1.2 million earner on Saturday as the stable stretches Perfect Reflection out over further than 1800m for the first time.
Four of her remaining rivals are also under $10 for the win in the latest Ted Van Heemst Stakes betting markets including $7 second elect and stablemate Neverland.
Perfect Reflection is drawn wide out in barrier 12, while the fellow Team Williams-trained Neverland is drawn a treat in gate two.
The Big Brown mare hasn’t won a race since the Listed Carbine Club of WA Stakes (1400m) in November of 2015, and she is yet to win over further than 1500m.
That said, her second to Delicacy in January’s edition of the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) was outstanding as was her second in the Listed A.T.A. Stakes (2200m) leading up to that last December.
She was beaten six lengths as a $51 roughie in the Kingston Town last start, but the bookies are taking no chances on Saturday as she gets out over more distance.
Occupying the third line of betting at $7.50 is Tradesman who starts from the widest alley (13 of 13) with Troy Turner returning to the saddle.
Turner rode the Robert & Todd Harvey-trained Trade Fair gelding to his third to Perfect Reflection in the Lee Steere Stakes and fifth in the Railway before Dwayne Dunn jumped on for the last start seventh in the Kingston Town Classic.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies at $9 each are Respondent and Zarantz drawn in barriers eight and four respectively.
Fred Kersley saddles-up Haradasun six-year-old Respondent who comes off a November 26 win at the track in the Listed Tattersall’s Cup (2100m).
The distance is ideal for the gelding, but weight-for-age and the rise to 59kg under these conditions will be the test.
Zarantz is drawn ideally in gate four with Brad Parnham booked to ride the Simon Miller-trained Choisir six-year-old who is out to atone for his seventh in the Tattersall’s Cup.
The gelding hasn’t been in his best form this season, but his record at Saturday’s distance is imposing with two wins and a second from four starts and improvement is expected.
See below for the latest CB Cox Stakes – Ted Van Heemst Stakes 2016 odds, fixed win markets now open at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
