Perth Cup favourites drawn perfectly for New Year’s Eve showdown
A PAIR of Western Australian favourites have drawn ideally for Saturday’s $500,000 Perth Cup and will look to keep the group 2 title on their side of the Nullarbor.
$3.20 favourite at Sportsbet.com.au, Kia Ora Koutou, drew barrier eight and the in-form four-year-old, Perfect Reflection, will get an ideal jump from gate six and is at the $4.20 quote.
Tradesman and Star Exhibit are both at $8 and are the only other runners in single figures.
It took Kia Ora Koutou over a year to break its winless streak after a series of unlucky runs in the west, but punters are buoyed by the strong win in the listed Japan Racing Association Trophy at the beginning of December.
Perfect Reflection is in scintillating form this campaign. Since returning from a spell the mare has not been out of the placings and finished third twice in group 1 company.
The four-year-old’s owner Bob Peters said prior to the barrier draw that Perfect Reflection was no certainty to start the race, given the horse will carry top weight into the group 2 contest.
“It’s still up in the air if she’ll start,” Peters said.
“She faces a difficult task to concede 5kg to Kia Ora Koutou. There’s also a 6kg turnaround against Ihtsahymn.”
After racing in big fields and top quality races, this will potentially be Perfect Reflection’s last race before a spell.
2016 Perth Cup odds
Market provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Kia Ora Koutou $3.20
Perfect Reflection $4.40
Tradesman $8
Star Exhibit $8
Zarantz $15
Dubai Escapade $15
Respondent $17
Ihtsahymn $19
Dark Musket $19
Dark Alert $21
Fathoms Of Gold $21
Neverland $26
Tick Tick Bloom $41
Cougar Express $81
The Forgotten One $101
Cold water poured on possible Douvan-Thistlecrack showdown after the Irish galloper makes a statement
Thistlecrack’s impressive King George win on Boxing Day put the novice on the jumps pedestal, but star Irish galloper Douvan reminded the world that it should not be overlooked after a consummate professional win in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Cashcard Chase on Tuesday.
The unbeaten chaser went off as the short-priced favourite and justified the price when it dominated the field, prompting questions from all and sundry as to whether a race against Thistlecrack could be on the cards in the near future.
Douvan’s trainer Willie Mullins was quick to dismiss any potential showdown.
“I don’t plan these things, if the horse is sound going home, I’ll look,” Mullins said.
“The Tied Cottage at Punchestown is something we could look at, but we’ll look nearer to home rather than travel abroad, anyway.”
A step up in trip of almost a mile would be required if Douvan was to race Thistlecrack, and Mullins said there are no plans to increase the racing distance of his star performer any time soon.
“I don’t need to find out more as long as he keeps winning those types of races. And then, if we decide to go up in trip that’ll be another day’s work.”
“But, honest to God, I have no interest in even thinking about that. As far as I’m concerned, we’re on the two-mile route this year, and I have no thoughts about going up in trip.
“I just take one day at a time and aim him for the next race. The only thing in the back of my head is that I don’t see any need to move off that sort of trip.”
Pakistan Star back to its winning ways
Fan favourite Pakistan Star returned to the winner’s circle in Sha Tin after saluting in the Griffin Trophy against its own age group on Tuesday.
Pressure built on the horse after posting a pair of staggering fast-finishing results in its first two starts, but failed to make an impression thereafter, but the drop back in class suited the speedster down to the ground, winning at $1.25 with Crownbet.com.au.
Trainer Tony Cruz said the team now has their sights set on the Group 1 Hong Kong Classic Mile, which takes place at the end of January.
“The next step now will be the Classic Mile,” Cruz said.
“After that, it is probably the best race for him. I just hope Joao can ride him there. This is our goal.”
Joao Moreira put Pakistan Star closer to the speed on Tuesday and the horse displayed its customary turn of foot to scorch its rivals in the latter stages.
Moreira said that while expectations are justifiably high on the German-bred runner, the horse is still a long way off reaching its potential.
“He’s still a very young horse, he’s still picking up,” Moreira said.
“I can say that now he is definitely not mature enough to be facing the top horses at this stage, but he indicates to me that he will be one of those top horses in time. It’s just a matter of time.”