This Saturday, January 2, the Perth Summer Racing Carnival action continues at Ascot Racecourse with the 2016 Perth Cup – betting odds and tips for which are found below.

Delicacy is short priced favourite but at a weight disadvantage with 59kg in the 2016 Perth Cup on Saturday at Ascot Racecourse. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
Due to run as Ascot 8 at 5:05pm (WA time), this year’s $500,000 Group 2 G1X.Com.Au Perth Cup (2400m) field is at capacity and led by the rails-drawn favourite Delicacy.
Grant Williams’ mare, winner of the Group 1 SA Oaks – Derby double in Adelaide back in May, will have to work to stay out of trouble from the gate and also carries the 59kg top weight.
That hasn’t stopped the bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au, home of Best Tote or SP + 20% on the Perth Cup field on Saturday, installing her as the short $2.20 favourite in betting.
William Pike jumps off the four-year-old daughter of Al Maher, paving the way for her other regular rider Peter Hall to return to the saddle shooting for the win for the punters.
The only other single-figure hope in the latest Perth Cup odds paying $4 to upset her stablemate is the fellow Williams-trained four-year-old mare Neverland.
Pike has opted to ride this daughter of Big Brown who has gate 10 but who gets in on the 54kg minimum giving her the big weight advantage over Delicacy.
Last time out Neverland, who only has winning form up to 1500m so far, was runner-up in the Listed ATA Stakes (2200m) on December 23 and if she sees out the distance is a big danger to the punters’ pick.
The next best in Perth Cup betting this season are ATA Stakes winner Bedamijo ($10) in gate two, the defending Perth Cup winner Real Love ($11) out wide in 17 (into 13) and 2014 WATC Derby winner over the track and distance Respondent ($13).
So will the best fancied mare salute or is there an upset Perth Cup result on the cards this summer?
1st
#11 Neverland ($4)
Neverland looks every chance of defeating her better fancied stablemate here with the light weight and the booking of Perth’s best Pike working in her favour. Her ATA Stakes defeat was brave and while her wins only extend to 1500m, if she runs out the distance she’s the one to beat.
2nd
#1 Delicacy ($2.20)
Delicacy is the deserving favourite and is the class runner in this year’s Perth Cup. She is a dual Group 1 winner and continues to live up to the hype including the easy CB Cox Stakes win over 2100m last time out. The distance is a non-issue, but she and Hall need to keep clear from that alley and the weight could be her downfall.
3rd
#13 Respondent ($13)
Lark Hill’s Adam Durrant won the 2015 Perth Cup with Real Love and could go back-to-back at a juicy price with former Derby winner at the track and distance Respondent. He’s drawn to get a gun run from gate six with Chris Parnham in the saddle and is also carrying only 54kg. He’s proven over the distance and should be peaking four runs in off some nice form including the ATA Stakes fourth with 59kg on his back last time out.
Whether you are backing or sacking our insider Perth Cup betting tips make sure you have access to Best Tote or SP + 20% on the entire field by signing up with Ladbrokes.com.au today!