Race 1 – Perth Cup Consolation (Group 3, 520m)
The Cup consolation kicks off Perth Cup night and sets up to be an intriguing affair. Smooth Plane (box 6) is the short favourite and was huge in his heat, running Boracay Summer to two lengths, clocking 11.09 in the run home. Box 6 is a significant concern however and with the pace in this race, I thought he was a risk. I’ll be playing around Rippin’ Moses (box 1) and Sunset Hornet (box 2). Rippin’ Moses has been chasing beautifully in recent weeks and his box manners will take him a long way in this. If left alone in front, he can more than hold his own turning for home and the map is suitable. His middle section is only fair however and this is where Sunset Hornet can make her presence felt. She was brilliant last week behind Miss Envy and with a clean beginning, she can challenge Rippin’ Moses on the first bend and can only improve off last week. Thinking one of those two will get the run to suit.
Bet: #1 Rippin’ Moses and #3 Sunset Hornet
Race 2 – Galaxy Consolation (715m)
This year’s Galaxy Consolation is an even affair, with plenty of variables in the early speed battle. Chloe Ant (box 1) has her box but her form has dipped recently. She’ll have to contend with Souljacker from box 6 challenging for the lead and West On Boonie (box 7) will at some point reach the leaders and do his thing. Max Capacity was a tough watch for backers in the heats last week but his run was super. He’s still learning his craft and with even luck he would blow these away, I didn’t see box 3 with all this speed being helpful. I’ve landed on Irish Millie (box 2) who can improve lengths off her heat win and with Chloe Ant clearing her early, Max Capacity moving up the track, I thought she has the run to suit and will be all over them leaving the back straight.
Bet: #2 Irish Millie
Race 3 – Novice (520m)
This race seemingly looks a match race between Catch The Feels (box 1) and Give Me Chills (box 4). With Katitjin in 2 wanting to move right out of the boxes and Give Me Chills running a straight line as well, I thought the map heavily favoured Catch The Feels and I’ve gone that way. Give Me Chills is open to improvement off his 30.03 trial but will have to deal with Man About Town in box 6 wanting to get to the rail. Looks a perfect set up for Catch The Feels.
Bet: #1 Catch The Feels
Race 4 – Galaxy Final (Group 1, 715m)
This year’s Galaxy is a cracker and one where I don’t think you can put a line through any of the runners. What sticks out here is the amount of early speed in this race with boxes 2,3,4,6,7,8 all capable of a quick first split. Ethanol Water is the favourite but her run was puzzling last week. She was the recipient of the same run last week she had in the prelude but lost six lengths in the run home. Her backers would want her finding the front fairly quickly here. Groovebird (box 6) and Might Have Been (box 7) will need to handle Flaws and Sins in 8 who will be wanting to charge across. I’ve settled on Black Silencer in box 5 who has missed the start his last three runs and that’s works in his favour here. If he can flop over to the rail behind the speed, his middle section was brilliant last week. He will need improve in the run home but with the full field, I think a few dogs will be out of the race before they leave the back straight. Tough race, anyone can win.
Bet: #5 Black Silencer
Race 5 – Novice (520m)
Fascinating race the first leg of the quaddie where we see boom pup West On Sidney (box 8) likely go around at $1.30. Let’s get one thing straight before I go on, he has 12 lengths on this field at least and with any sort of a run he will win. With that said, box 8, full field and his lack of early speed has me looking for a bet somewhere else. I thought Tinsel Girl is box 2 has the map of the century. Boiler Maker in box 1 has early speed and wants to move wide on the bend, as does Come On Mango in 3. This race could fall into Tinsel Girl’s lap and she only needs to go 30.30 to run a place. At $3+ a place for Tinsel Girl, I think that’s far more enticing than $1.30 West On Sidney.
Bet: #2 Tinsel Girl (each way but much heavier the place)
Race 6 – Perth Cup (Group 1, 520m)
The 2025 edition of the Perth Cup is the best I’ve seen in my time of following WA dogs, with stars everywhere you look. The box draw has made this, with Mepunga Tully (pictured) in box 2 likely beginning well and wanting to shift up the track. This makes life difficult for Maximum Kuna and Boracay Summer in boxes 4 and 5, whilst giving a beautiful run to Deadly Avenger. Miss Envy backers saw exactly what they needed to see last week. She was superb but has to deal with box 7. I can’t back her but any other dog would be double figures with this draw. Her racing manners and class gives her a chance. Deadly Avenger was good last week and with him being drawn inside Tully, he’s my on top selection. I think there’s no reason why Rare Speed can’t run the race of her life. She was brilliant holding off Barefoot Zulu in her heat and she has the early section to cross this field. She’s a big price but do not leave here out. What a race.
Bet: #1 Deadly Avenger, small bet #6 Rare Speed (each way)
Race 7 – Grade 3&4 (520m)
I thought there were three key chances in the third leg of the quaddie where Bagnaia (box 1) will be looking to pinch a break on Cochise Attitude (box 6) and Bezzechi (box 7). Bagnaia begins off the mat much better from inside draws and has the speed to hold out Aston Bollinger early who is more so a mustering type. He is only fair through the middle and that’s where the likes of Cochise Attitude, who can begin much better than she did last week, can make their move. Bezzechi is racing well but is let down by his box manners over this shorter trip. He’ll be charging home again. I’ll side with Bagnaia purely on price and the draw (no bias whatsoever…).
Bet: #1 Bagnaia
Race 8 – Perth Cup 2nd Consolation (520m)
The second consolation rounds out the features on the card and I think this is Crumble Monelli’s best chance to win a race in a long time. He’s getting tired late but with favourite Wise Barra in box 4 having to contend with Italian Stallion and Uncle Tommy on her outside, Crumble has the potential to be a long way in front. Italian Stallion is racing nicely and it wouldn’t shock to see him cross Wise Barra early. The question from there would be how close can he get to Crumble in the run? Dancing Dawn in 8 is drawn to show her best as well if you’re looking for some value and Shima Dream from box 1 will get a lovely rails run. I think this could be the night for Crumble.
Bet: #2 Crumble Monelli
Race 9 – Grade 5 Provincial (601m)
This race is firmly in the too hard basket for a betting proposition. Iron Works (box 3) is the favourite, and he was brilliant last start where he ran home in 11.29. The full field is his biggest concern and is likely to be well back. La Sagrada in box 5 steps up in trip but has a shocking draw with Zipping Maradona on her outside. West On Prancer (box 1), Sunset Serengeti (box 2) and Biggest Fan (box 7) are all very inconsistent. Zues Keeping (box 4) and Lochinvar Hawk (box 8) have talent but there draws make it difficult as well. Good luck.
Race 10 – Free For All (715m)
Pass Mark (box 1) has the map, and I expect him to begin much better from box 1 in a small field. Cool Ash in box 2 will use a bit of the track and his main rival Infra Rock (box 7) is a wide runner as well. He’ll be left alone and likely too good. Infra Rock will improve with the wide draw and but how he handles Cannington is still a question. Shake And Bake (box 8) will be either posted outside Infra Rock or too far back to run down Pass Mark.
Bet: #1 Pass Mark
Race 11 – Novice (601m)
Another tricky affair over the middle distance where Canya Concorde (box 7) is the favourite. I like him drawn wide but will have to contend with Brookman Ranger (box 8) early. Our Girl Jess (box 2) will have her admirers and has hit the line strongly since stepping up to 520 at Cannington. Fast Byte and Brookman Ranger are enigmatic whilst Zipping Luik (box 4) and Snappy Snacker (box 5) are unlikely to find themselves in winning positions during the run. This is a race I’m happy to watch.
Race 12 – Grade 5 520m
Think we can leave Cup night a winner with Common Man (box 1) in the last. He’s won four on the bounce and finds another race where he can have the arm to himself and I’m not sure where an immediate challenge will come from. Timmy Tesla (box 4) and Kuro (box 6) are the main dangers but both are suspect off the mat and where they get to from their draws is anyone’s guess. The rest of the field are largely out of form. Common Man should be too good.
Bet: #1 Common Man