Gai Waterhouse is chasing a long-elusive victory in the $1 million Perth Cup (2400m) with Serpentine, the 2020 English Derby winner.
Despite a storied career, neither Waterhouse nor her legendary father, Tommy Smith, has claimed the prestigious Western Australian feature.
Waterhouse is confident in Serpentine’s readiness, dismissing doubts about his imported stayer status.
“He’s been here a few years and he’s now an Aussie like you and I,” she said. Highlighting his fitness and gate speed, Waterhouse added, “It only takes one horse to win the Perth Cup.”
Serpentine faces stiff competition from Young Werther, trained by Danny O’Brien and ridden by WA-born jockey Damien Lane.
Both horses share $7 odds with betting sites, promising a tight contest at Ascot.
For Waterhouse, a Perth Cup victory would cap her enduring legacy and honour her family’s near-misses in the race.