Perth's Cup King

| Head To Head | Mon 20 May, 2013

Only three WA horses have won the Melbourne Cup, and Rogan Josh was the most current winner in 1999. Rogan Josh is arguably WA's best 2-miler in the past 20 years or so. How will he go against past Perth Cup winners of the past 20 years?

For this exercise, Rogan Josh will be allocated top weight of 58kg because he is the best horse in this field and given his record, I think the 58kg is correct. The other horses however will be allocated the same that weight they carried when they won the Perth Cup in their respective years. The other reason why I have done this is because I'm not a handicapper and I have no handicapping back round so I wouldn't know what weight to allocate the other horses.. Also past Perth Cup winners include horses who won the Perth Cup when the race was run at 3200m. This means horses such as Guyno, Lords Ransom, Guest Wing, Western Jewel and Talent Show are not able to make this field because they won the Perth Cup at the new distance of 2400m which was first introduced for the 2009 Perth Cup.

Also where possible I have tried to match the jockeys up to the respective winners however some jockeys won the race more then once in this 20 odd year period, so I have to put another jockey on. You can't have the same jockey riding two different horses.

Track: Ascot | Track Rating: Good 3 | Distance: 3200m  | Weight Conditions: Handicap

1.	Rogan Josh	John Marshall	58kg	Barrier 7
2.	Lottila Bay	Patrick Carbery	54.5kg	Barrier 8
3.	Tumeric	John Claite	54kg	Barrier 12
4.	Crown Prosecutor	William Pike	53kg	Barrier 5
5.	King Canute	Jason Whiting	53kg	Barrier 2
6.	Time Frame	Damien Oliver	53kg	Barrier 10
7.	Luna Tudor	Jason Brown	52.5kg	Barrier 11
8.	Ros Reef	Mark Miller	.5kg	Barrier 1
9.	Mirror Magic	Troy Jackman	52.5kg	Barrier 3
10.	Black Tom	Peter Hall	52kg	Barrier 4
11.	Cardinal Colours	Neil Chapman	52kg	Barrier 15
12.	King Of Saxony	Stephen Miller	52kg	Barrier 13
13.	Zamlight	Mark Sestich	51.5kg	Barrier 16
14.	Palatious	Dennis Gundry	51kg	Barrier 18
15.	Heed The Toll	Noel Rudland	50.5kg	Barrier 17
16.	Word Of Honour	Ron Franklin	49.5kg	Barrier 9
17.	Crying Game	Paul Harvey	49kg	Barrier 14
18.	Field Officer	Peter Knuckey	46.5kg	Barrier 6

 

1. Rogan Josh (Old Spice - Eastern Mystique)
Career Record: 38 Starts: 13-6-2
Prize Money: $2,683,692
3200m: 2 Starts: 1-1-0
Ascot 3200m: 1 Start: 0-1-0

Major Wins:
1999 Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m)
1999 Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m)
1999 Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m)
1998 Group 3 Bunbury Cup (2200m)
1999 Listed Pinjarra Cup (2200m)

Comment: Best 2-miler in this field in my opinion and deserves top weight of 58kg. Have to include.

2. Lottila Bay (Kingdom Bay - Milimili)
Career Record: 79 Starts: 10-11-10
Prize Money: $579,843
3200m: 3 Starts: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 3 Starts: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
2001 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
2000 Listed Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m)
1999 Listed Tatts Cup (2200m)
1999 Listed Easter Cup (2200m)

Comment: Tough stayer who will be trying his heart out all the way. Won the Perth Cup in 2001. One to include in trifecta's and quartets however is a genuine roughie.

3. Tumeric (Old Spice - Goldie's Best)
Career Record: 72 Starts: 13-5-11
Prize Money: $531,310
3200m: 4 Starts: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 2 Starts: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
2003 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
2002 Listed Helena Vale Cup (2200m)

Comment: 2003 Perth Cup winner who won easily by 3 lengths. Nicely weighted here but would be a surprise if it won. Not for me.

4. Crown Prosecutor (Grand Lodge - Dark Hope)
Career Record: 27 Starts: 7-3-2
Prize Money: $404,655
3200m: 1 Start: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 1 Start: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
2005 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
2005 Listed Tatts Cup (2200m)

Comment: Perth Cup winner in 2005. Another roughie and would surprise if it won. Looking elsewhere.

5. King Canute (King Of Kings - Marooned Lady)
Career Record: 25 Starts: 6-3-2
Prize Money: $356,360
3200m: 1 Start: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 1 Start: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
2004 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)

Comment: 2004 Perth Cup winner. Will be there abouts but not sure if he's good enough against others in this field. Could be.

6. Time Frame (Sovereign Slipper - Cerrin)
Career Record: 68 Starts: 14-7-8
Prize Money: $473,205
3200m: 1 Start: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m 1 Start: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
1997 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
1991 Group 3 Sired Produce Stakes (1400m)
1996 Listed December Handicap (1800m)
1996 Listed Tatts Cup (2200m)
1991 Listed All Start Quality (1650m)

Comment: Perth Cup winner in 1997 and very competitive on his day. Will be in this for a long time. Another one of those to add to triefecta's and quartets. Keep a look out.

7. Luna Tudor (Military Plume - Moon Storm)
Career Record: 37 Starts: 10-3-6
Prize Money: $401,095
3200m: 3 Starts: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 2 Starts: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
2000 Group 2 Perth Cup: (3200m)
1999 Listed York Handicap (1800m)

Comment: 2000 Perth Cup winner. A roughie. Looking for others.

8. Ros Reef (Muros - Catherine Reef)
Career Record: 19 Starts: 5-0-2
Prize Money: $242,840
3200m: 1 Start: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 1 Start: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
1995 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
1994 Listed A.T.A Handicap (2200m)

Comment: Tough stayer who won the Perth Cup in 1995. Look for this galloper winding up late.

9. Mirror Magic (Lord Ballina - Mirramanda)
Career Record: 37 Starts: 7-3-7
Prize Money: $340,930
3200m: 2 Starts: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 2 Starts: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
1991 Group 1 WA Derby (2400m)
1992 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
1991 Group 2 C.B Cox Stakes (2400m)

Comment: 1992 Perth Cup winner who is nicely weighted in this. I expect a bold showing.

10. Black Tom (Langfuhr - Narmada)
Career Record: 54 Starts: 9-2-7
Prize Money: $619,005
3200m: 5 Starts: 1-0-1
Ascot 3200m: 3 Starts: 1-0-1

Major Wins:
2006 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
2007 Pinjarra Cup (2300m)
2006 Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m)
2005 Listed Tatts Cup (2200m)

Comment: Won the Perth Cup in 2006 by 6 lengths. Nicely weighted with 52kg and if he can bring that 2006 Perth Cup form for this race...........he will be right in this. Better then a roughie - must include in trifectas and quartets.

11. Cardinal Colours (Chiefs Crown - Tabura)
Career Record: 52 Starts: 6-4-3
Prize Money: $393,370
3200m: 3 Starts: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 2 Starts: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
2002 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
2001 Listed Towton Cup (2200m)
2001 Listed Belmont Park Cup (2100m)

Comment: Gutsy stayer who loves being on the pace in front or near to the lead. Will be doing the same thing and with a nice weight and and could possibly get few cheap sectionals - he could be in there or there abouts. One to include for trifectas and quartets.

12. King Of Saxony (Spartan Valley - Queen Of Saxony)
Career Record: 23 Starts: 6-6-1
Prize Money: $416,200
3200m: 3 Starts: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 2 Starts: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
1999 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
1994 Listed Melvista Stakes (2200m)

Comment: Won the 1999 Perth Cup by a short neck. Two things were amazing about this win. First was the fact that this horse won the Perth Cup first up after a 36 week spell. The second is that the horse who finished in that 1999 Perth Cup was Rogan Josh, and as time would tell, he would go on to win the Melbourne Cup later that year. If he can bring that form from that 1999 Perth Cup plus the 52kg - he is a major contender. Must include.

13. Zamlight (Zamazaan - Kaoru Flight)
Career Record: 35 Starts: 6-1-2
Prize Money: $294,310
3200m: 1 Start: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 1 Start: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
1991 Group 1 Perth Cup (3200m)

Comment: Won the 1991 Perth Cup at 33/1. Rough chance in this race. Prefer others.

14. Paltious (Semipalatinsk - Delicious Blue)
Career Record: 22 Starts: 7-6-2
Prize Money: $317.920
3200m: 1 Start: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 1 Start: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
1994 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
1993 Group 2 C.B Cox Stakes (2400m)

Comment: 1994 Perth Cup winner who will be competitive in this race but may not be good enough. Place chance at best. A roughie.

15. Heed The Toll (Serheed - Bellavega)
Career Record: 103 Starts: 10-6-10
Prize Money: $489,495
3200m: 5 Starts: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
1998 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
1998 Group 3 Rain Lover Plate (2400m)
1998 Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2500m)

Comment: 1998 Perth Cup winner who is the only Perth Cup winner in this field to win a Black Type (Group/Listed) race outside of WA. One of the roughies - could surprise.

16. Word Of Honour (Regimental Honour - Sansolan)
Career Record: 40 Starts: 3-4-6
Prize Money: $436,042
3200m: 2 Starts: 1-1-0
Ascot 3200m: 2 Starts: 1-1-0

Major Wins:
1990 Group 1 Perth Cup (3200m)

Comment: Tough stayer. Looking at others.

17. Crying Game (Warring Nations - Harka)
Career Record: 56 Starts: 13-5-3
Prize Money: $732,600
3200m: 3 Starts: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
1995 Group 1 WA Derby (2400m)
1996 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)
1997 Listed Belmont Cup (2100m)
1997 Listed WA St Ledger (2600m)
1995 Listed Imperial Stakes (2200m)
1995 Listed Melvista Stakes (2200m)
1995 Listed Roberts Quality Stakes (2200m)

Comment: 1995 Perth Cup winner who won the Perth Cup by 3.5 lengths. Loves to be on the pace and preferably leading. Will be right in this until the end if he has anything left in the tank with 150m to go...

18. Field Officer (Old Spice - Carre D'Or)
Career Record: 33 Starts: 3-4-5
Prize Money: $268,460
3200m: 3 Starts: 1-0-0
Ascot 3200m: 2 Starts: 1-0-0

Major Wins:
1993 Group 2 Perth Cup (3200m)

Comment: Won the 1993 Perth Cup by 5.3 lengths carrying 46.5kg. Has the same weight for this race and let's be honest - in a 3200m handicap race, 46.5kg is a luxury weight. Can be competitive but will need to run up to his Perth Cup win form. A real roughie but because of his feather weight of 46.5kg - include in trifectas and quartets because after all......that's what handicap racing is all about.........anything can happen....

 

My Selections:

1st - Rogan Josh: Is the best horse in this field. Has won the top staying race in Australia and whilst 58kg might pose a challenge I think he can win. If they go beserk up front, he can sit in the back of the field and make a run home but if the pace is slow, John Marshall can put him where he likes. The Bart Cummings polish will help too -  the one to beat.

2nd - King Of Saxony: Whilst other horses in this field have won more Black Type (Group/Listed) races. I think King Of Saxony has more potential, Injuries took their toll. He is the only horse to beat Rogan Josh at 3200m and whilst that was only by short neck, that in my mind is pretty good form to have. Nicely weighted too.

3rd - Crying Game: Tough on pace stayer who will try and get cheap sectionals up front. Loves to be near the front or in front and will be in this for a long way if he has anything left in the tank with 150m to go and will be hard to stop especially with the 49kg.

4th - Mirror Magic: Will be very competitive in this and when the whips will be cracking, expect a bold showing from this galloper.

Roughie - Palatious: Stylish galloper who is one of the better roughies.

So there you have it. A very tough race to pick. Trying to pick a 3200m handicap race is hard at the best of times. As we all know, in handicap racing anything can happen - such is the wonder and mystique of handicap racing with horses carrying different races. I wouldn't be surprised at all if a horse who I didn't have in my top 4 popped up and won.

However that's my top 4 and roughie and now...................over to you people. Name your top 4 and "roughie". Enjoy :-)

I hope you enjoy this week's edition of Head-To-Head.

4 Comments | 1 decade ago