3 minute read
Timeform recap of the 2021 Perth Cup at Ascot won by Neufbosc.
Saturday's Group 2 Perth Cup was a great spectacle with the 'weight horse' Neufbosc denying the 'WFA horse' Truly Great in the final stride.
A two horse war up the straight, Truly Great looked to have Neufbosc's measure at the 200m, before just out-stayed late.
His third win in seven starts for the Neville Parnham stable, Neufbosc took full advantage of a 10/10 ride from Chris Parnham.
Originally settling ahead of Truly Great, Parnham was able to get onto his back when Pike pressed up three wide to trail Trap For Fools passing the 1400m.
Following him every step of the way, Parnham made his move at the turn, popping out to eyeball Truly Great coming into the straight.
Pike was yet to push the button when hitting the front on straightening, but was unable to shake off Neufbosc.
In a great battle to the line, Neubosc just edged ahead late, notching up his first Group success in Australia.
Group 1 placed behind Kew Gardens in France as a three-year-old, Neufbosc had struggled to find his feet in Australia before making the trip West.
A surprise winner third up over 1400m, Neufbosc was able to turn around a 9L beaten margin when safely held in the Kingston Town Classic three starts prior.
While a 6kg swing at the weights, it highlighted Parnham's training performance in getting the six-year-old back on track, winning two of his subsequent three starts.
The Team Williams trained Truly Great certainly lost no admirers, at the weights he destroyed them; on level terms he beats Neufbosc by ~7L and third placegetter Midnight Blue by ~11.5L.
He returned a new career peak now rated 118 by Timeform, building on his 115+ achieved when winning the Kingston Town Classic.
That is a significantly high number for the Perth Cup, the highest rating achieved since Delicacy in 2016.
As a point of reference Regal Power came East last year rated 115 (now rated 122), though they didn't elect to push on to the Perth Cup with him after Ted Van Heemst Stakes.
Different story this year with Truly Great, which suggests they are likely to give him a long spell and set him for the Spring.
A winner of eight of his 14 starts, including six of his last eight, he has come a long way in a short period and is clearly trending the right way.
The Peters' army continues to build and he becomes another weapon to fire our way later in the year.
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