All in order for Numerian in bid for G2 Perth Cup

Top weight and a wide draw in a big field is not typically the recipe any trainer would wish for or entertain when heading into a race, let alone a feature $1 million staying contest.

Numerian carries 59kg and jumps from barrier 15 in Monday’s Perth Cup (2400m), leaving in-form Sydney trainer, Annabel Neasham, optimistic yet cautious about the gelding’s prospects.

Neasham hopes bad luck doesn’t undermine her goal of winning the second leg of a feature race double in Perth after Numerian took out the Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) on December 23.

Twice Group 1 placed, Numerian showed he was in top form in the Ted Van Heemst Stakes, ending a losing drought that stretched back to the Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm 18-months ago.

Neasham, who has her stable firing with seven winners since Xmas, said Numerian is in fine order since the Ted Van Heemst Stakes and she hopes it’s a forerunner to the Perth Cup 2024.

“He’s done really well and obviously being a short back up we haven’t done a lot with him, just ticking him over and taking him to the beach,” said Neasham on Tabradio.”

“He’s in good order and Liz who has been travelling with him all the way through says she couldn’t be any happier with him.”

Neasham has turned to top Perth hoop Brad Parnham to partner Numerian in the Perth Cup after Ted Van Heemst jockey Clint Johnston-Porter elected to stick with Be Optimistic.

“Obviously we offered it to Clint, but we knew even when we booked him for the Van Heemst there was a chance that he wasn’t going to be able to ride in the Perth Cup,” Neasham said.

“Brad Parnham is a fantastic jockey who has won a lot of big races and is one of Perth’s leading riders, we were more than happy for him to partner up with Numerian.

“We certainly have the visitors draw, but he is a horse where we ride him where he is happy.

“I think 2400m is his absolute limit in terms of trip, so it’s important that wherever he gets to, forward or midfield that its done so with little energy as possible.

“I think from wide draws as a trainer it’s hard to pin down a jockey with too many instructions, so it will a little bit be up to Brad to where he can get him.

“He’s pretty diverse the horse, so I’m not too worried where he settles, but we’ll certainly need a little luck from the draw.”

Numerian is $4.80 and on the second line with Ladbrokes. Casino Seventeen, who gains a 6kg weight turnaround on Numerian following the Ted Van Heemst Stakes, is the $3 favourite with popular betting sites.

From the stables of four-time Perth Cup champions Grant and Alana Williams, Casino Seventeen jumps from barrier five and will be ridden by William Pike.

Numerian can cap a lucrative first trip in Perth for Neasham after Zaaki ran a bold second to Dom To Shoot in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes.

Not usually too superstitious, she says she’ll be watching the Perth Cup and taking in the new year from her home base in Sydney.

“I was hoping to come over, but because the Magic Millions (Gold Coast) is coming I am struggling to fit it in,” Neasham said.

“The last time I came Zaaki got beat and I didn’t come for Numerian, so I thought I would leave it all the same.”

Although it’s a race that has not attracted many eastern staters in recent times, Numerian will have to overcome a hoodoo with the Paul Cave-trained Respect the last interstate raider to take out the Perth Cup (2007).