Runner-by-Runner Preview: 2025 Perth Cup

The first major race of the year is almost upon us! The 2025 Perth Cup may officially hold Group Two status, but there is a cool $1 million up for grabs, so you know all the runners will be bringing their a-game. As expected, we see a high-quality field for the race, with 15 runners confirmed.

So, out of the 15 runners, who do you think will come out on top? Well, I have gone through every single runner for our loyal OnlyRacing readers and provided my thoughts on each of them. Will you stick with one of the more favoured runners in the market or try your hand at a roughie? The choice is up to you!

Keep reading as I preview all 15 runners for the 2025 Perth Cup!

Casino Seventeen has middle-of-the-pack odds at $13, thanks to Bet365. Gets a gun draw so I think he is in with a chance. Has been racing at Ascot for a while now, so should know the track well. The gelding has won once this prep, at Ascot Racecourse, in the Group Two Lee Steere Stakes.

Young Werther is one of the more favoured runners, according to Dabble and has odds of $6.00 at the moment. This puts him as the current equal second favourite. Comes into this one with a little bit of form under his belt, but didn’t put it together last time out. Should be in the finish.

Let’s Galahvant is one of six runners listed with odds of $10 or under with QuestBet at the time of writing. I think the 6YO will enjoy the softer ground and his record on a soft track is 15: 5-3-2. QuestBet is currently offering $10 for the gelding and he was brave in defeat last time out. I think he is right in the mix.

Just like Let’s Galahvant, Socks Nation enjoys a softer track, which she will get here. Draws out wide but does have the speed to overcome that, so don’t completely write her off here. With Bet365, the mare is currently going around with odds of $13. One of the better double-digit runners I reckon.

Another that has drawn poorly, with Serpentine jumping from barrier 14. The gelding does have barrier speed though and can overcome the wide barrier. It might take a lot out of him in the beginning, so it is all about where he ends up after the jump. Serpentine is one of the more favoured runners, with odds of $7.00 according to Dabble.

Diamond Scene is currently on the equal second line of betting at QuestBet, with odds of $6.50. I think he has some of the best form coming into this one, winning three of his last five races, including the Listed A.T.A. Stakes last time out and narrowly going down by 0.2L in the Listed G.A. Towton Cup the run before that. One of the main winning chances.

Be Optimistic comes into the Perth Cup with massive roughie odds. Bet365 is currently offering $41 for the mare to win. Has struggled so far this prep, including runs at Ascot over a similar distance to what he will be competing in on Wednesday. This looks a little too tough for her.

Currimundi has the equal highest odds currently going around with Dabble, at $51. Didn’t do much last time out in the Group Two Ted Van Heemst Stakes, when finishing last, 7.5L. But the step down to 2,000m looks suitable. This still seems like a massive task for Currimundi and I’m happy to give him a miss for this one.

Demolish does get the gun draw here with barrier one, but like some of the runners listed just above, I think this one will be a touch too difficult. Hasn’t placed so far this prep, although he did run fourth last time out in the Listed A.T.A. Stakes. QuestBet has him going around with odds of $27 at the time of writing and I think that’s about right.

According to Bet365, Flower In The Wind has little chance of winning the Perth Cup with the mare going around with the equal highest odds of $51. The barrier draw did her no favours either, jumping from the widest barrier of them all. She has gone unplaced in all races so far this prep. Another one to miss I think.

Hemlock Stone is going around with odds of $41 at the time of writing, thanks to Dabble. Certainly not the worst $41 chance I’ve ever seen, yes this is a step up, but he comes into this one with some form under his belt, including a win here at Ascot in early November. One to include in wider exotics if you’re looking for value.

The gelding, In Good Order, brings some form into this one and is currently on the equal second line of betting with QuestBet, at odds of $6.50. The 4YO won the Group Two Ted Van Heemst Stakes last time out here at Ascot and that’s a good form indicator for the Perth Cup. Carries the lightest weight and the barrier draw is decent enough. Major chance.

Iowa is currently going around with roughie odds, $26 at the time of writing, thanks to Bet365. But I think he can run a good race here. Draws a wide barrier here, so that doesn’t help, he did finish third in the Listed A.T.A. Stakes last time out and jockey Holly Watson sticks with him here. A place chance at best.

Another coming through the Listed A.T.A. Stakes, where he finished fifth, 2.8L off the pace. In his run before that, however, he won the Listed G.A. Towton Cup. Jockey Joseph Azzopardi and Playhouse Patron have developed a nice relationship, with Azzopardi onboard for his last four runs. Dabble is currently offering $34 for Playhouse Patron.

Sentimental Hero is the current favourite with odds of $5.25, thanks to QuestBet. Went down in the Listed A.T.A. Stakes last time out, when jumping as favourite. Does enjoy a softer track, which he will get here. He is right in this once again and a main winning chance in my eyes. He will have a wide-ish barrier to overcome though.

So, there you have it! Our preview of all 15 runners in the Perth Cup. Remember, we will also provide our horse racing tips for the race as well as our Ascot tips, so look out for them. You can use our tips to bet at one of the best betting sites or betting apps going around.