Horse Racing

Following the weekend’s race results, Mark Reed’s progressive six-year-old Kincaple has been installed at the top of the 2011 Perth Cup odds, the local Ascot-based galloper having been well backed to take out the New Year’s Eve clash.

Peter Moody's Saturday winner at Flemington Elusive King is still a 2011 Perth Cup chance

Backing up from a last-start ninth when beaten four lengths by Playing God in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 3, the Pentire gelding showed nice improvement when stepping up in distance on Saturday to finish one and a quarter lengths off another Neville Parnham-trained star, God Has Spoken in the $225,000 Group 2 CB Cox Stakes (2100m).

While God Has Spoken remains a double-figure chance in the Luxbet markets for the $400,000 Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) paying $14, Kincaple has had their price cut from $6.50 into $4 and are now sole favourite in the markets.

Prior to Saturday the early Perth Cup 2011 betting favourite was the Grant Williams-trained Ranger.

Ranger, however, has drifted out from $4.60 to $7 third pick in the Perth Cup odds at Luxbet after they were beaten three and a half lengths when third to God Has Spoken in the Cox Stakes.

The two other single-figure Perth Cup chances are then Ranger’s stablemate Tranquility ($5.50) who was an eye-catching fourth from a wide gate in the Cox Stakes, and Peter Moody’s Victorian galloper Elusive King ($8.50 into $7.50) who won a 2000 metre handicap at Flemington upon protest on Saturday.

While yet to confirm a trip over to WA for New Year’s Eve, Moody said on Saturday that the Perth Cup was still an option for Elusive King who has now won three of their 14 career starts.

“We’re still looking at the Perth Cup for him,” Moody said.

“We just want to evaluate the form from the Cox Stakes and then decide whether to go or not.”

Major drifters in the Perth Cup betting markets at Luxbet over the past few days include two others Grant Williams-trained hopefuls Lords Ransom ($6.50 out to $13) and Battle Emblem ($8 out to $10) after the pair finished fifth and ninth respectively in the CB Cox Stakes.

Williams has confirmed that Tranquility and Battle Emblem will run as will Western Jewel ($21 Luxbet), but that Lords Ransom will be withdrawn.

Meanwhile Williams’ four-year-old Catbird mare Moonlight Bay stormed up the Perth Cup odds now a $13 chance at Luxbet after earning a ballot free ride into the race by winning the $80,000 Listed WA St Leger (2100m) as a $20 outsider on Saturday

Although the Perth Cup price on CB Cox Stakes winner God Has Spoken is still a generous one, connections are confident heading into the popular feature.

Twelve months ago the Blackfriars entire ran dead last in the 2010 CB Cox Stakes before their 12^th behind Guest Wing in the Perth Cup, God Has Spoken obviously having come on well since.

“Bring on the Perth Cup on the minimum weight,” owner Colin Loxton said, God Has Spoken actually allocated 53kg, one kilo above the minimum.

God Has Spoken will be penalised for the Cox Stakes win, however, a decision on by how much in the hands of Perth Racing’s chief handicapper David Hunter and senior handicapper Ross Starling.

Bookmark us here at Races.com.au for all the 2011 Perth Cup updates.

In the meantime, back your favourites at juicy early odds at Luxbet now before markets firm.

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