Patinack Farm’s Saint Encosta will play a lone hand for eastern states-trained stayers in the Perth Cup.
Saint Encosta was the only interstate entry among 44 horses for the Group Two race when nominations closed this week.
“The Perth Cup has been the race we have set him for all along,” Patinack racing manager Robyn Hartney said.
With Sydney jockey Glyn Schofield in the saddle, Saint Encosta confirmed he was on target for the Perth Cup with a narrow defeat in the JRA Trophy (2200m) at Ascot last Saturday.
“If the run had came a bit earlier he would have won,” Hartney said.
Saint Encosta, who posted a Group Three win at Warwick Farm during the Sydney autumn carnival, is a $21 chance in first Perth Cup markets.
Like most Perth Cup contenders, the five-year-old will have his final lead-up to the race at weight-for-age in the CB Cox Stakes (2100m) at Ascot on Saturday week.
Kingston Town Classic placegetter Ranger has been installed the $4.20 Perth Cup favourite with TAB Sportsbet.
Ranger’s stablemates Tranquility and Lords Ransom are on the next lines of betting at $5.50 and $6.50 respectively.
The $400,000 Perth Cup (2400m) will be run at Ascot on December 31.
AAP TURF
