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The countdown to the Perth Cup heats up at Ascot on Saturday with a key lead-up to the New Year’s Day feature running in WA where Lindsay Park‘s Apulia is the heavily backed favourite in the Ted Van Heemst Stakes 2025 field.

The Group 2 $300,000 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) has drawn a dozen summer gallopers this season with many eyeing a run over 2400m back at the track on January 1 in the 2026 Perth Cup.

Sitting top of the latest Ted Van Heemst Stakes odds at $2.80 and firming through Ladbrokes.com.au is
Apulia for Ben, Will & JD Hayes.

The well-bred son of Fiorente went back-to-back in Melbourne earlier this prep including a narrow Listed Chester Manifold Stakes win over the Flemington mile defeating Detonator Jack.

He then travelled west and lined up in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) here on December 6 only to be eased back to eventually cross a disappointing 10th to Cosmic Crusader.

That form was franked in last weekend’s Group 3 The Gold Rush with Cosmic Crusader finishing runner-up to Rey Magnerio, which bodes well for a potential return to form from Apulia this weekend.

The ‘Wizard of the West’ William Pike comes aboard in a huge tick, and they’re drawn to get all the favours from the inside alley.

Regal Power ($1.65 in 2019 and $1.20 in 2021) was the last Ted Van Heemst Stakes favourite to salute for the punters.

The danger occupying the second line of Ted Van Heemst Stakes betting this summer is the Michael Grantham trained Diamond Scene ($3.70) drawn midfield in gate seven.

An eight-time winner from 18 starts at the Ascot track, the So You Think six-year-old was runner-up in last season’s Perth Cup and is also a graduate out of the Northerly Stakes.

After a Group 3 win in the Eurythmic Stakes fresh, he finished a credible fourth in the Group 1 Railway Stakes over the mile before his ninth in the Northerly after sitting on pace before fading late.

He presents rock hard fit now and shapes up as a genuine top three chance.

A further three runners are currently under double-figures for the win with classy grey mare Admiration Express ($7.50) who ran sixth in the Northerly, the Dan Morton trained defending champion In Good Order ($7.50) looking to go back-to-back and Peter Fernie‘s Railway Stakes third placegetter Sentimental Hero ($8).

American Pharoah five-year-old won the Ted Van Heemst Stakes last year in a close finish and is now out to become the event’s first dual champion since Regal Power (2019 & 2021).

The last back-to-back Ted Van Heemst Stakes winner meanwhile was Tropical Chief way back in 1975 & 1976.

The 2025 Ted Van Heemst Stakes is set to run as Ascot Race 9 at 5:00pm (AWST) / 8:00pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race card in Perth.

CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE.

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.