Leading owner Bob Peters will be out to end an unusually quiet Ascot racing carnival on a high note in this week’s TABtouch-Perth Cup (2400m).
Bob Peters, along with wife Sandra, have won the New Year’s Day feature on 10 previous occasions, including the most recent edition with Midnight Blue.
They will be represented by Pure Devotion and Truly Inspired in this weekend’s edition of the Group 2 event.
The most notable success for Peters Investments this carnival was the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) with Treasured Star.
Truly Inspired forced his way into the Perth Cup field by Saturday’s ATA Stakes (2200m) at Ascot.
The gelding will be out to follow in the footsteps of fellow Peters Investments gallopers Mississippi Delta and Star Exhibit by winning the ATA Stakes and Perth Cup double.
Peters said he was relieved to see Truly Inspired bounce back to his best in the ATA Stakes, following an unplaced performance at his most recent start on December 3.
“He came back from that previous start where we don’t know what went wrong,” Peters told TABradio.
“The vets found he was lame after the race, but during the week after that we checked him thoroughly and we couldn’t find anything wrong with him.
“I think he’s ready alright and the distance will suit him.
“It’s just a matter of whether he’s good enough.”
Pure Devotion finished fourth to Midnight Blue in the 2022 Perth Cup and enters the 2023 edition off the back of an unlucky sixth in the ATA Stakes.
Peters said he expected more from the mare this campaign so far but felt she could turn it around on Sunday.
“When she ran fourth last year, I thought with an extra year of maturity that she would be our horse for the Perth Cup this year,” he said.
“She has let us down a bit.
“I think she should be ready now.”
Truly Inspired is the $5.50 second favourite with TABtouch for the Perth Cup, which is headed by Alaskan God ($3.70).
Pure Devotion, who drew nicely in barrier three, is rated a $14 chance.
Sunday’s Perth Cup gets underway at 4.50pm.
