A number of notable 2018 Perth Cup horses are set to do battle today at Ascot Racecourse in the Listed $100,000 A.T.A. Stakes (2200m).
Recent Perth Cup winner Delicacy (January, 2016). Photo: Jenny Barnes.
The midweek meeting in W.A. features the early Perth Cup favourite Trap For Fools along with the likes of Royal Star and Zarantz.
Running as Ascot Race 7, the latest A.T.A. Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au are shaping up as a two horse battle between the Grant & Alana Williams-trained mare Royal Star ($2.35) and Lindsey Smith’s flying galloper Trap For Fools ($2.50).
Raced by seven-time Perth Cup winning owner Bob Peters, Royal Star jumps from gate seven with Jarrad Noske aboard on the 54kg minimum.
Out to do the A.T.A. Stakes – Perth Cup double achieved by the fellow Peters-owned Star Exhibit last summer, the four-year-old daughter of Redoute’s Choice is back up to a staying distance for the first time this prep.
As a three-year-old she was impressive winning the Listed Natasha Stakes (2200m) before a Group 3 W.A. Oaks (2400m) second in April.
Peters is hoping she can improve on a lead-up sixth to Pounamu in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) from December 9 when just over two lengths beaten and prove her staying potential again.
“It was a very good run last start,” he told The West Australian.
“We’ll see whether she stays the distance. Sometimes they get it as three-year-olds, but not as four-year-olds.
“She’s up against Trap For Fools, who keeps winning. I’ve got no idea if she can beat him.”
All going to plan, Royal Star will race again at Ascot on New Year’s Day in the Group 2 $500,000 Perth Cup (2400m).
The latest all-in Perth Cup odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au have the mare at $7 for the win, equal with her last start conqueror Pounamu who has his final lead-up on Saturday in the Group 2 $400,000 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2400m).
A dual acceptor for both races and likely to run twice in three days is the current favourite in futures Perth Cup betting, Trap For Fools.
The Poet’s Voice four-year-old chases win number six on the trot in the A.T.A. Stakes field with Alan Kennedy coming aboard in place of Hong Kong hoop Douglas Whyte.
Whyte road the Ascot track specialist (10:6-0-1) to his latest two black-type wins this summer, the latest of which was a 2.25 length effort on Kingston Town Classic Day in the Listed G.A. Towton Cup (2200m).
The Ted Van Heemst Stakes then calls on Saturday for Trap For Fools, one of just eight final acceptors for the event.
Also a dual acceptor for both races is the Adam Durrant-trained Zarantz, the Choisir seven-year-old carrying the 59kg top weight in the A.T.A. Stakes and paying $9 to turn the tables on Trap For Fools after his G.A. Towton Cup fifth.
Head to Ladbrokes.com.au now for all the best Perth Summer Racing Carnival odds including futures markets on the Perth Cup 2018 on January 1.
