Pop Culture ended a very successful 2012 in the Listed WATC St Leger on Saturday and she can start the New Year with a G2 victory in the Perth Cup.

Pop Culture (4m Blackfriars – Georgia’s Storm by Metal Storm) was the benchmark for Perth’s fillies earlier this year winning the LR Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m) and G3 WA Oaks (2400m).

Trainer Colin Webster brought her back to claim the Ascot Gold Cup (1800m) last month and she completed a Listed double in the WA St Leger (2100m) as an odds-on favourite.  “I was worried when she was boxed in at the turn but she certainly proved she was the best horse in the race when the gap came,” Webster said.  “She’s all heart and is crying out for 2400m now.”

Pop Culture has a 2yo half-brother named Pop Shot (Shags) and her younger full sister has been catalogued by Gervase Park as Lot 78 at the 2013 Perth Magic Millions.

Her sire Blackfriars has won the last two Sunspeed sires’ premierships and he is making a bold bid for a hat-trick with earnings of $1.31 million so far this season.  Oratorio (Aus) is next best among WA based sires with $847,860.

Blackfriars has just finished covering 180 mares at Scenic Lodge and he has 22 yearlings entered for the Perth Magic Millions.  There are 8 lots from his home base with the star being a half-brother to speed machine Karuta Queen (Lot 43).

– Karl Patterson