The Perth Cup 2016 kicks off Group 2 racing for another calendar year at Ascot Racecourse this Saturday with a capacity field of stayers facing off in the half-a-million-dollar showdown.

2016 Perth Cup favourite Delicacy came up trumps with barrier one for Saturday’s showdown at Ascot Racecourse. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

Due to run as Ascot Race 8 at 5:05pm (local time), this summer’s $500,000 Group 2 G1X.Com.Au Perth Cup (2400m) has 16 confirmed starers plus four emergencies.

Just two of those are at single figures to win in the latest Perth Cup odds with the Grant Williams-trained Delicacy the firm favourite.

She won two Group 1 races as a three-year-old back in May at Morphettville and also comes off an Ascot win in the Group 2 CB Cox Stakes (2100m).

The distance is a non-issue and she’ll run it out no worries from her inside barrier one draw, but the Bob & Sandra Peters-owned four-year-old has the 59kg top weight and weight carrying record to handle and set if she is to salute for the Perth Cup punters.

Perth’s best hoop William Pike doesn’t know if she’ll do it and he jumps off the daughter of Al Maher in favour of the ride on the fellow Peters-owned, Williams-trained mare Neverland.

Another four-year-old, this daughter of Big Brown comes off a second in last Wednesday’s Listed A.T.A Stakes (2200m) and might only have winning form up to 1500m but carries the 54kg minimum this weekend.

ATA Stakes winner Bedamijo also backs up in the Perth Cup field and is the best fancied of the double figure hopes in betting.

Tara Izstein’s eight-year-old Helenus mare has winning form up to 2200m and is a 50-start veteran that is drawn a treat in barrier two with regular rider Shaun O’Donnell continuing his association for her biggest test to date.

Next best in the markets, that will be offered at Best Tote or SP + 20% only at Ladbrokes on Saturday, are the Adam Durrant-trained stablemates Respondent and Real Love.

Now five-year-old Desert King mare Real Love won last year’s Perth Cup during a stunning spring – summer winning streak carrying 54kg with Pike in the saddle.

Twelve months on she comes off a fourth in the CB Cox Stakes but has a nasty barrier 17 (into 13) draw to overcome as well as 57kg if she is to go back-to-back in the Perth Cup.

Respondent is drawn better in gate six for Chris Parnham and should get a lovely run with the 54kg after the Haradasun five-year-old carted 59kg to run fourth in the ATA Stakes on December 23.

The rest of the field are over $20 to score an upset Perth Cup result but last season’s Perth Cup third placegetter Kirov Boy even from the outside barrier and the Colin Webster-trained Danehill Express four-year-old Properantes, fifth in the ATA Stakes, are not without their claims.

See below for the full Perth Cup 2016 field, barriers, jockeys and weights and then head to Ladbrokes.com.au and gear up for access to Best Tote or SP + 20% on the Group 2 on January 2 this weekend!

2015 Perth Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw

Ascot Race 8 (5:05pm) – 02/01/2016