The feature of the New Year’s Eve racing action takes place in W.A. on Saturday with the 2016 Perth Cup, betting tips and the latest odds on the mile and a half showdown found below.

Jockey Chris Parnham rides Respondent in the 2016 Perth Cup field on Saturday in WA. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell.
Due to run as Ascot Race 8 at 5:00pm (local), this season’s $500,000 Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) features a fifteen-starter field.
The latest Perth Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are led by the Geoff Durrant & Jason Miller-trained Kia Ora Koutou at $3.30.
A four-year-old son of Blackfriars, the gelding enjoyed a win at the track on December 10 in the Listed JRA Trophy (2200m) and drops from 55kg to the 54kg minimum for his Perth Cup bid.
The distance is a non-issue for the in-form galloper who ran third to Tarzino in Flemington’s Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in October of 2015 and from barrier eight shapes up as a livewire favourite for the punters to get behind.
His biggest danger in Perth Cup betting this summer is the 59kg top weight Perfect Reflection ($4.80) out to hand her owner Bob Peters with a seventh win in the race.
Delicacy got the job done for the same connections 12 months ago with the same weight off a very similar lead-up to the fellow Grant & Alana Williams-trained mare.
More Than Ready four-year-old Perfect Reflection hasn’t finished worse than third in her five runs this time in and won the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) last time out on December 17.
Already proven as a Group 1 winner of last season’s Kingston Town Classic, she has class but needs to handle the distance and the big kilos.
Also at single-figures are the Durrant & Miller-trained ATA Stakes winner from last weekend Star Exhibit ($7.50) and the Robert & Todd Harvey-trained Tradesman ($8).
So will the best in betting get the job done on Saturday or is there an upset Perth Cup result pending from the likes of Fred Kersley’s ATA Stakes runner-up Respondent ($16) or even last season’s runner-up Neverland ($21)?
1st
#11 Star Exhibit ($7.50)
The stable is well represented in the Perth Cup field this summer and of their contingent really like the lead-up form and untapped potential of this Statue Of Liberty five-year-old. He has a strong Ascot record (10-4-2-1) and handled 2200m without a worry last Saturday winning the ATA Stakes with 56.5kg. Drops to the minimum for his rise in class and even on the quick back-up, with the kilos he is a big hope to answer to his Group 2 rivals at a good price.
2nd
#1 Perfect Reflection ($4.80)
Plenty of class and ability in this Peters-owned Group 1 winner who has done everything right in the lead-up. Think she’ll get the distance, but the weight is the worry and she’ll need to be at her best. Gets every chance to prove she’s as good as Delicacy with William Pike in the saddle and the gun barrier six draw.
3rd
#10 Respondent ($16)
Great price on offer for Kersley’s forgotten galloper, the Haradasun six-year-old in the outside alley but with time to overcome the gate. Comes right back from 59kg in the ATA Stakes when second to 54kg here. Chris Parnham is an outstanding young rider and when this horse ran ninth in the Ted Van Heemst, he was also with 59kg. The weight is key here and he’s won over the distance.
Whether you’re backing or sacking our Perth Cup 2016 betting tips make sure you have access to the best markets online at Ladbrokes.com.au who are offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on the race (T&Cs apply).