Socks Nation out to prove herself as Perth Cup favourite when starting as leading fancy in Ted Van Heemst

The Group 2 $300,000 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) shapes as a key lead-up to the Perth Cup on New Year’s Day, with big race favourite Socks Nation out to preserve her title at the top of betting. After just a fair showing in the Railway Stakes, Socks Nation proved her worth when finishing gamely to run into third place in the Northerly Stakes two weeks later. The effort was enough to prompt connections and trainer Ciaron Maher to supplement her with an entry in the Perth Cup, which soon saw her odds crash down to $4.20 TABtouch favouritism for the prestigious event. This week, she is the $2.90 favourite to take the Van Heemst, and will have a new jockey for the first time in WA with local hoop Brad Parnham picking up the steer. Through the Pinnacles, eastern states runners came to the fore and claimed every Perth Group 1 across the carnival. Currently, that looks an ominous harbinger of the winner of the Perth Cup, too, with Saturday’s second favourite Numerian ($3.30) also hailing from the east coast. Caught three-wide without cover for the duration of the Northerly Stakes, Numerian fought on manfully to be beaten just three lengths in seventh place. The nine-year-old veteran was last year’s Van Heemst Stakes winner on his way to finishing fourth in the Perth Cup but showed some of his best form through the middle part of the year when taking May’s Hollindale Stakes in Queensland. Regal Power is the only other horse to claim multiple Van Heemst wins this century, though his wins came two years apart in 2019 and 2021. Clint Johnston-Porter partnered him for that 2023 win but was committed to eventual second placegetter Be Optimistic in the Cup with Brad Parnham taking the mount. Johnston-Porter will again be in the saddle on Saturday and has already had a memorable connection with the Neasham-Archibald yard over the last month with victory aboard Port Lockroy in the Railway. Third favourite In Good Order ($7.50) was saved for this assignment in preference to Wednesday’s ATA Stakes, which was eventually claimed by Johnston-Porter on Diamond Scene. In Good Order has had a more conventional staying preparation, running second in the Scahill Stakes (2100m) behind Sentimental Hero and third in the Towton Cup (2200m) to Playhouse Patron. The 2100m of this weekend’s assignment will certainly prove no object and he looks a leading light of the WA contingent looking to keep the Cup on our shores. Another local luminary is Casino Seventeen($10), who took this year’s Cup in famous fashion by a nose margin. He surprised many when sprinting like a startled gazelle to whiz past several speedy rivals to win the Lee Steere Stakes over 1400m fresh. However, his form since has just been OK, running 11th in the Railway before failing to beat any runner home in the Northerly Stakes and defeated almost 10 lengths. South Australian jockey Manoel Nunes flies in to take the ride on the seven-year-old, with the rider taking his first WA victory for the Grant and Alana Williams stable aboard Housewife on Wednesday. Another who looks as though he will thrive on the additional distance is Let’s Galahvant ($11), who steps up after a 14th placing in the Northerly Stakes. His crowning glory came at 2000m in the winter when victorious in the Strickland Stakes, defeating last week’s Gold Rush winner Western Empire. A 45-start six-year-old, the gelding has thrived off racing and chases like a beast, making it no surprise should he burst past them late in Saturday’s task. Russian To The Bar ($12) is a surprise participant and must prove his staying potential in order to be competitive. He steps up from 1600m last start but has shown himself to be chock-full of potential across the last 12 months. He is out of former quality mare Rosie Rocket, who, among a plethora of victories, finished down the track in this race 12 years ago. Marocchino ($16) ran his usual race out in front in the Northerly but was under severe sufferance before the turn, wilting to be 13th and beaten six lengths. But his record at this distance is nothing short of remarkable, with five wins and a second from nine appearances. Though his form hasn’t looked up to scratch lately, he is capable of pulling one out of the hat at any time. Currimundi ($16) went off a real roughie at 200/1 in the Northerly Stakes but did not perform badly in finishing eighth while looking a horse that was seeking further. He is a winner over this distance in the past when taking the Albany Cup in March and looks one of the best local contenders for the Cup in a fortnight. + Steno was made a surprisingly generous $3.80 second favourite for the Group 3 $50,000 Christmas Belles (2130m) at Gloucester Park on Friday but has quickly been smashed into outright favouritism at $1.80. The near half-a-million-dollar earner was a brave third in the Group 1 Mares’ Classic after being unable to charge to her favourite position as front-runner. Though drawn the widest barrier of eight, she will be required to flash forward early to hold an advantage over Penny Black ($3.90). Penny Black, who has raced with little luck recently, is one of the toughest mares in training and will look to get through quickly from gate 11 to race as prominently as possible. She draws the back of former favourite Acharne Girl (gate two), who has now drifted to $5.50.