Trainer Luke Fernie has quickly turned his attention to upcoming feature races with his stable stars, after several near misses during the recent Pinnacles carnival.

Favourite wins Perth New Year’s Day feature in tight finish.

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.

A bumper crowd is expected to roll into Ascot on New Years Day with the running of the Group 2 Perth Cup headlining the feature meeting.

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