Top weight and a wide draw in a big field is not typically the recipe any trainer would wish for or entertain when heading into a race, let alone a feature $1 million staying contest.

Champion jockey William Pike agrees with a fair chunk of pundits that key factors are in play for Casino Seventeen to win Monday’s Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot.

Be Optimistic will bid to claim a feature race hat-trick ahead of her grand final mission at Ascot on New Year’s Day.

Top jockey Brad Parnham has secured a top Perth Cup (2400m) mount on interstate raider Numerian in Monday’s $1 million Group 2 race at Ascot.

Interstate raider Numerian staked his claim for Perth Cup (2400m) bragging rights with a convincing win in the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) at Ascot this afternoon, launching his Perth debut in the best way possible.