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Oliver supreme on Black Tycoon

A remarkable ride from Damien Oliver propelled Black Tycoon to a stunning win in today’s $500,000 GRD Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot.

Black Tycoon looked in trouble at the top of the straight when he was stuck in the second half of the field behind a wall of horses.

After checking off Operational’s heels, the $5 favourite shot through narrow gaps near the inside and held off God Has Spoken ($61) to win by a short head.

Ask Me Nicely ($41) was third.

Oliver’s outstanding ride gave him a second Perth Cup win after he guided Cats Fun to victory in 2008.

The winner of November’s Melbourne Cup on Fiorente, Oliver made cup day his own with a treble. The star jockey also won the La Trice Classic (1800m) on Elite Belle and race three on Kheleva.

“He had a nice run in the race but they did stack up on the turn and I didn’t really have anywhere to go,” Oliver said.

“As soon as the runs started to come, he really forced his way through and had a big finish on him.”

Black Tycoon, an eight-year-old who was unwanted after breaking down badly early in his career, gave Justin Warwick his biggest win as a thoroughbred trainer.

Earlier, Magnifisio scored a brilliant win over Shining Knight and Dueton in the $100,000 Schweppes Summer Scorcher (1000m).


Perth Cup finishing order: 3-4-7-2

Here's what happened earlier in the day ...

4pm: One for favourite backers, with Jason Brown piloting Magnifisio to victory in Race 6, the Schweppes-Summer Scorcher (1000m). Shining Knight second and Dueton third. Now all eyes turn to the big one, the $500,000 Golden River Developments Perth Cup (2400m) at 4.20pm.

3.45pm: A late market check, with the Perth Cup just over half an hour away. And

we have an outright favourite, with Black Tycoon now out on his own at $5. Rohan remains at $5.50, while Pop Culture has eased to $6.

TAB market

$5 Black Tycoon

$5.50 Rohan

$6 Pop Culture

$9 Kincaple

$10 Knightlike

$12 Keepers Court

$13 Marden

$26 Starlight Lady

$26 Cyber Crime

$26 Global Flirt

$26 Daneclicked

$31 Operational

$31 Moonlight Bay

$31 Talent Show

$41 God Has Spoken

$41 Ask Me Nicely

Scratched: Malaika (1EM); Moreish (2EM); Doutable (3EM); Jim N Jim (4EM)

3.15pm: Another upset in the fifth race at Ascot, Thunderluv'n ($31) squeezing out Amorino by a head. Let's Lighten Up came third.

3pm: A gallery of some of today's racegoers at Ascot

2.25pm: Bottom weight Paseo Del Prado ($9), ridden by Shaun McGruddy, wins Race 4, the Golden Square Handicap (1200m), by 2L from Silver Speck. Trading Day took third.

2.15pm: A look at the latest TAB betting for the Perth Cup, with Starlight Lady back where it began the day at $26. No movement elsewhere and three three co-favourites all still at $5.50.

1.50pm: Damien Oliver up and running at Ascot with victory on Kheleva in the third. Oliver, on co-favourite Black Tycoon in the Perth Cup, drove the $6 shot to a 3/4L victory over favourite Mountain Haze in the Golden River Develop (1400m). High Fidelity was third.

1.15pm: Apprentice jockey Mitchell Pateman makes the most of his 2kg allowance to steer top weight Malaika ($8) to victory in the second, the Golden Karnup (2200m). Dirty Flirty was second and Galaxon third.

1.05pm: Still just over three hours to the off for the Perth Cup, with the only mover being bottom weight Starlight Lady, which has moved in from $26 to $20. Still a three-way split for favouritism between Rohan, former WA Oaks winner Pop Culture and Black Tycoon, ridden by 2013 Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Damien Oliver.

12.35pm: Pop Culture could be an omen bet in the Perth Cup later today after Lightning Run won the first race.

Lightning Run carried owner Russell Clarke's red and dark blue colours - the same as Pop Culture - to an upset win at $38.50 on tote.

Lightning Shot is also prepared by Pop Culture's trainer, Colin Webster, and was ridden by Troy Turner, who will chase his first Perth Cup win on Pop Culture.

Kamballie came in second, beaten by a long neck, with Mysticity third.

Talent Show, ridden by Jarrad Noske, wins the 2013 Perth Cup ahead of Mr Moet and Global Flirt. Talent Show goes again today. Pic: Nic Ellis/WA News


11.40am: No change in the TAB market for the Perth Cup. A great piece by Robert Edwards in The West Australian this morning, on the battle for bragging rights between 10 good mates.

10.25am: Here is the latest market from the TAB and our expert tips for the cup. There's been little movement this morning, with Keepers Court in a point to $12, while Kincaple has eased slightly from $8 to $8.50.

The four emergencies have now been scratched.

EXPERT TIPS

ROBERT EDWARDS The West Australian

1 Pop Culture

2 Black Tycoon

3 Knightlike

4 Global Flirt

JAY ROONEY The West Australian

1 Rohan

2 Pop Culture

3 Knightlike

4 Starlight Lady

ERNIE MANNING The West Australian

1 Pop Culture

2 Rohan

3 Black Tycoon

4 Kincaple

BARRY FARMER The West Australian

1 Keepers Court

2 Rohan

3 Black Tycoon

4 Pop Culture

WES CAMERON TAB Radio

1 Pop Culture

2 Black Tycoon

3 Kincaple

4 Keepers Court

DAVID SHORTTE TAB Radio

1 Pop Culture

2 Black Tycoon

3 Rohan

4 Starlight Lady

GREG HOOPER TAB Radio

1 Black Tycoon

2 Pop Culture

3 Knightlike

4 Rohan

STEVE MILLS 6PR

1 Pop Culture

2 Knightlike

3 Kincaple

4 Black Tycoon

ASCOT TIPS

ROBERT EDWARDS

RACE 1: RIPPER RED 1, Kamballie 2, Zipline 3, Lightning Run 4.

RACE 2: FANCY FEET 1, Jim “N’ Jim 2, Antelpen 3, Malaika 4.

RACE 3: BELLS TOWER 1, Mountain Haze 2, Kheleva 3, Two Toned Blonde 4.

RACE 4: SILVER SPECK 1, Star Mak 2, Jolly Moss 3, Trading Day 4.

RACE 5: AMORINO 1, The Blues 2, Thunderluv’n 3, Honest Lies 4.

RACE 6: MAGNIFISIO 1, Dueton 2, Excelorada 3, Shining Knight 4.

RACE 7: POP CULTURE 1, Black Tycoon 2, Knightlike 3, Global Flirt 4.

RACE 8: ELITE BELLE 1, Bippo No Bungus 2, Rose Of Choice 3, Looking Ahead 4.

RACE 9: WESTERN BLAZE 1, Sail Maker 2, World Domination 3, Accrual 4.

BEST BET: Bells Tower. DOUBLE: Silver Speck.

JAY ROONEY

RACE 1: KAMBALLIE 1, Zipline 2, Ripper Red 3, Mysticity 4.

RACE 2: FANCY FEET 1, Jim ‘N’ Jim 2, Toned 3, Coughlin’s Law 4.

RACE 3: BELLS TOWER 1, Mountain Haze 2, Ruling Force 3, Kheleva 4.

RACE 4: SILVER SPECK 1, Rusty Peaches 2, Inok 3, Full Clip 4.

RACE 5: THE BLUES 1, Mendicity 2, Amorino 3, Thunderluv’n 4.

RACE 6: DUETON 1, Magnifisio 2, Excelorada 3, Shining Knight 4.

RACE 7: ROHAN 1, Pop Culture 2, Knightlike 3, Starlight Lady 4.

RACE 8: ELITE BELLE 1, The Other Harv 2, Bippo No Bungus 3, Rose Of Choice 4.

RACE 9: ACCRUAL 1, World Domination 2, Sail Maker 3, Always A Smile 4.

BEST BET: Bells Tower. DOUBLE: Silver Speck

CRAIG NITSCHKE

Flemington Race 5: No.2 Unchain My Heart (12.30pm)

Randwick Race 5: No.4 Heart Testa (12.50pm)