Racing winds down in the West this weekend, but not before the $500,000 Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) gets underway from Ascot.

Moved from it’s usual date of New Year’s Day, this year’s edition features a strong field of 17 runners, five of which are owned by Perth racing icon, Bob Peters.

Having first won this race back in 1993 with Field Officer, Peters is gearing up to win his eighth Perth Cup, having most recently won with Star Exhibit in 2017.

This year, Peters hopes $2.10 favourite Action can get the job done with leading W.A jockey William Pike aboard.

“I would say that Action is well under the odds now” Peters told RSN on Friday.

“He’s come along well, he hasn’t done anything amazing on the way through, but he’s been consistent and as the distances have increased, that’s suited him. He won the Derby well, and I think that’s in the back of people’s mind.”

Action will jump from barrier four on Saturday, but the four-year-old has work cut out for him alongside stablemate and $5.50 second-elect, Mississippi Delta. 

Chris Parnham is set to saddle the five-year-old mare, hoping to continue the winning form after beating Action home in last month’s Listed A.T.A Stakes (2200m).

“She has an explosive turn of foot, Mississippi Delta” Peters admitted.

After dominating the Perth Summer Carnival with promising three-year-old filly Arcadia Queen, it’s no wonder Peters is feeling confident ahead of Saturday’s race. As far as Arcadia Queen’s future goes though, don’t expect to see her, or fellow stablemate Galaxy Star, in Melbourne anytime soon.

“They’re spelling out at the farm, the Autumn comes around too quick for us, you have to have a very special animal to be able to put them through the campaign they’ve been through here, give them a break, and get them back in time, it’s just too quick for us.”

Full Perth Cup Odds can be seen below.