Perth Cup picture

Many expected Alaskan God to assert his position at head of the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) market on Saturday, sent around at $1.85 in Saturday's Listed G.A. Towton Cup (2200m).

That wasn't to be however as he continued the theme, admittedly largely built upon the cerise and white's tendency to be ridden cold, of 'the better you are, the further back you settle.'

Given too much to do, he was still decidedly disappointing, running to just 100 on Timeform's scale and beaten 3.8 lengths by Buster Bash, who was a dominant winner.

That means Alaskan God has yoyoed his way through four runs this preparation, going 104+, 99, 111, 100.

Looking back over recent Perth Cup winners, his best runs would make him competitive but his failures would not.

Over the past three years, the winning average has been 105.66. Over the past seven years, which (by design) includes star mare Delicacy, as well as a couple of other handy winners, the average becomes a touch under 110.

I'd be forecasting this year to fall somewhere closer to the 105 mark than the 110 mark unless a horse like Alaskan God can really find his best, which likely won't happen if he's continuously ridden so far back in the field.

Looking at the top horses in the Perth Cup market, all seem a bit on shaky ground.

Alaskan God still heads it, and his peak ratings and SP profile are sure to keep him short, with Ironclad second pick.

He was good in The Northerly running to a huge new peak of 116, but I wrote after that race "that is almost entirely due to him leading the race which not many would've predicted despite there being no noted leaders on paper."

I'm not sure if he's even confirmed to be going and his newfound ability to race on the pace helps, but 2400m has to be a huge query. He has seen the trip in the UK and ran fourth, beaten just 1.9 lengths at Kempton Park, running to 95, but I think most would have genuine queries on him running it at this level now.

Next in line is Truly Inspired, who is a fairly progressive horse for the Peters' team but who only has a peak of 96, albeit in a dominant win at benchmark level two starts ago. He was poor as favourite last start over 2100m and pulled up lame so there have to be queries on his preparation leading into the Perth Cup.

Buster Bash, as previously mentioned, was a dominant winner on Saturday and once again showed the huge importance of being able to settle on the pace. Able to sit close to the pace, he took over early in the straight and put 3.2 lengths on his nearest rival, equalling his peak of 109.

He's now run to a three-year Perth Cup winning mark in three of his last four starts having rated 109-92-109-106.

Next in line, and one that makes plenty of appeal, is Marocchino. A last start winner of the Listed A.J. Scahill Cup (2100m), he ran to a new peak of 115 there which I would forecast wins this year's edition 9/10 times.

He led the field in the Railway, with Buster Bash in second, and a strong gallop over a mile was just too much, but did still beat Buster Bash home. A Northam Cup win, second in the Stickland last preparation, fifth, beaten 0.8 lengths in the Hyperion all spit out ratings that are good enough to win this, and he can race on the speed!

The query of course will be the weights which are yet to be released at the time of writing, but his official handicap rating was the equal highest in the field. Still, the field looks awfully thin and his ability to race on the speed outweighs literal weight for me.

The Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m), run the week before the Perth Cup, will be a huge pointer to the race. He won the Northam Cup on an eight-day backup and is going much better than last year when struggling in the lead up races, ultimately finishing 11th in the Perth Cup.

As much as $13 (TAB, Monday morning) is being bet for Marocchino and if I had to pick a horse now, he'd be it.

FP	Silk	Horse, Age & Sex Sire & Dam	Jockey Trainer	SP WT
1st		2. BUSTER BASH (AUS) 5yo G TRADE FAIR (GB) - DISCO MISS (AUS)	JOSEPH AZZOPARDI D R HARRISON	$13 56.5kg
		Bridge Patrol Lodge (Mgr: D Harrison), B Sanders, G Christie, L Wenn, Ms K Thompson, R Roney Nominees Pty Ltd (Mgr: R Roney), L Piper, Mrs K Piper-Hyman, G Donovan, K Holly, R Fuller, R O'Malley, G Ryan, G Burns, C Sullivan, B McMahen, G Bunting, Mrs J Triscari, L Harrison & I Riley
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2019 Perth Winter Yearling Sale (1) | Alwyn Park Stud, Serpentine, Wa | Bridge Patrol Lodge Pty Ltd | AUD $ 10,000 2019 Perth Winter Yearling Sale (1)   Alwyn Park Stud, Serpentine, Wa  Bridge Patrol Lodge Pty Ltd AUD $ 10,000  | Magic Millions | 2019 Perth Yearling Sale (203) | Alwyn Park Stud, Serpentine, Wa | AUD $ 5,000 2019 Perth Yearling Sale (203)   Alwyn Park Stud, Serpentine, Wa  AUD $ 5,000
2nd		8. COCKNEY CREW (AUS) 7yo G MASCHINO (AUS) - HAPPILY (AUS)	SHAUN O'DONNELL LOU LUCIANI	$17 54kg
		Mrs T M Anderson, E S Lord, A J Anderson & L E Coleman
3rd		3. NEUFBOSC (FR) 7yo G MASTERCRAFTSMAN (IRE) - NONSUCH WAY (IRE)	BRAD PARNHAM NEVILLE PARNHAM	$7.5 56kg
		Seymour Bloodstock (Mgr: D S Thomas), M A Pilkington, Hall Thoroughbred (Mgr: K M Hall), M B Lee, M K Dawson, S F Emery, R C Pearson, A M Branson, B I Ford, F D Grabowski & R D Hanley
4th		5. ALASKAN GOD (AUS) 4yo G PLAYING GOD (AUS) - LADY ALASKA (AUS)	CHRIS PARNHAM D MORTON	$1.85 55kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2020 Perth Yearling Sale (226) | Mungrup Stud, Narrikup, Wa | Morton Racing Pty Ltd | AUD $ 90,000 2020 Perth Yearling Sale (226)   Mungrup Stud, Narrikup, Wa  Morton Racing Pty Ltd AUD $ 90,000
5th		7. UTGARD LOKI (AUS) 7yo G FROST GIANT (USA) - TWINKLE TOES (IRE)	LUCY FIORE ADAM DURRANT	$31 54.5kg
	Sales Information  | Inglis | 2023 APRIL (Late) Online Sale (105) | Andrew Inglis | AUD $ 25,000 2023 APRIL (Late) Online Sale (105)   AUD $ 25,000
6th		12. PURE DEVOTION (AUS) 5yo M SO YOU THINK (NZ) - PARIS ROMANCE (AUS)	WILLIAM PIKE ADAM DURRANT	$7.5 54kg
	Sales Information  | Inglis | 2023 Chairman's Sale (51) | Holbrook Thoroughbreds, Scone | Belmont Bloodstock / Dorrington Farm | AUD $ 110,000 2023 Chairman's Sale (51)   Holbrook Thoroughbreds, Scone  Belmont Bloodstock / Dorrington Farm AUD $ 110,000
7th		9. COME RIGHT BACK (AUS) 6yo G TORONADO (IRE) - SENSE OF PURPOSE (AUS)	MS KYRA YUILL ADAM DURRANT	$26 54kg
8th		6. BLACK SHADOW (AUS) 8yo G TRADE FAIR (GB) - BLACK VISION (AUS)	JASON BROWN JIM P TAYLOR	$21 54.5kg
9th		4. STAFFORD'S LAD (AUS) 8yo G DEMERIT (AUS) - CRASH HOT (AUS)	JAMIE KAH D MORTON	$15 56kg
10th		11. LADY CHANT (AUS) 4yo M WAR CHANT (USA) - VERSE (AUS)	JORDAN TURNER BROCK LEWTHWAITE	$71 54kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2023 Magic Millions Online Sale (42) | Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, Wa (As Agent For C C H Cheng) | Premium Bloodstock Services (Fbaa)/Yarradale Stud | AUD $ 210,000 2023 Magic Millions Online Sale (42)   Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, Wa (As Agent For C C H Cheng)  Premium Bloodstock Services (Fbaa)/Yarradale Stud AUD $ 210,000  | Magic Millions | 2020 Perth Yearling Sale (133) | Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, Wa | Thoroughbred Owners Association & Sports Trust (Toast) | AUD $ 180,000 2020 Perth Yearling Sale (133)   Yarradale Stud, Gidgegannup, Wa  Thoroughbred Owners Association & Sports Trust (Toast) AUD $ 180,000
11th		10. DIVINE SHADOW (AUS) 7yo G BLACKFRIARS (AUS) - IDYLLIC DOLL (AUS)	JADE MC NAUGHT BRETT POPE	$151 54kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2017 Perth Yearling Sale (285) | Scenic Lodge Muchea Wa | Brett Pope | AUD $ 30,000 2017 Perth Yearling Sale (285)   Scenic Lodge Muchea Wa  Brett Pope AUD $ 30,000
12th		1. TRAP FOR FOOLS (AUS) 9yo G POET'S VOICE (GB) - OLD MONEY (AUS)	DAMIEN OLIVER G & A WILLIAMS	$21 62kg
	Sales Information  | Inglis | 2014 Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale (38) | Widden Stud, Widden Valley | WITHDRAWN 2014 Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale (38)   Widden Stud, Widden Valley  Withdrawn