The Northerly Stakes form is expected to stack-up in Saturday’s 2022 Ted Van Heemst Stakes field with betting on the Perth Cup lead-up led by the visiting Victorian Steinem.

Steinem is the mare to beat in Saturday’s 2022 Ted Van Heemst Stakes in Perth. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A dozen summer stayers face off in Ascot’s Group 2 $250,000 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) this weekend with the majority eyeing a run back at the track on New Year’s Day in the always-popular Perth Cup over the mile and a half.

Group 1 racing for 2022 down under came to a close with the Northerly Stakes in WA over 1800m a fortnight back, and the place-getters in that WFA showdown head Ted Van Heemst Stakes betting.

Current favourite at a quote of $2.80 through Ladbrokes.com.au is the third-placed Frankel mare Steinem from the Melbourne Cup winning stables of Ciaron Maher & David Eustace.

She is drawn a treat in barrier three with John Allen retaining the ride after her close finish when making-up ground to finish in the money in the Northerly.

That followed on from the British-bred five-year-old’s solid spring campaign in Melbourne that included a second to Atishu in Flemington’s Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m).

That has proven a strong form race with the winner going on to run second in the Ballarat Cup before a close third when only a half-length off upset champ Kirwan’s Lane from barrier 17 of 20 in last weekend’s $2 million The Ingham over the mile at Randwick.

The danger out to stop Steinem further franking the form in Saturday’s Perth showdown is fellow Northerly Stakes place-getter, the Will Clarken-trained runner-up Ironclad.

Ironclad jumps one on the favourite’s inside this weekend in gate two with Brad Rawiller aboard the seven-year-old.

After a failed 12^th in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) two back, Ironclad showed huge improvement when only a length off the winning filly Amelia’s Jewel in the Northerly as a 50/1 outsider.

He is being kept much safer in betting up in distance this Saturday at current Ted Van Heemst Stakes odds of $3.30 and firming.

The only other single-figure fancy in the markets is the Lou Luciani-trained Marocchino ($5.50) who has won two of his past three starts.

Jumping from gate eight with Troy Turner in the saddle again the galloper was last seen carrying a hefty 60.5kg to a narrow win on November 26 at this track and distance in the Listed AJ Scahill Stakes (2100m).

Of the double-figure fancies those most likely to score an upset include William Pike’s mount Dom To Shoot ($10) and Playing God five-year-old God Has Chosen ($11).

The Ted Van Heemst Stakes 2022 is set to run as Ascot Race 8 at 4:55pm (AWST) local time with full markets available through Ladbrokes.com.au by clicking here.

2022 Ted Van Heemst Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.