Bob Peters will have a strong two-pronged attack on the G2 Perth Cup come New Years Day after his mare Western Jewel won the Listed ATA Hcp at Ascot on Wednesday.

Western Jewel (4m Jeune – Our Millster by Marooned) survived a protest from runner-up Guest Wing (Right Wing) to claim a third win in her last four starts at Ascot.  Her stablemate Ranger (Testa Rossa) still tops charts for the Perth Cup after coming from last to finish an eye-catching third yesterday.

Peters bred the winner from his Ascot winner Our Millster.  The dam is a daughter of Dallas Dempster’s top-class filly Timeless Action (Serheed) who won the Listed Sunspeed Champion Stakes at two and the G3 WATC Strickland Stakes as a three year-old.

“She has been in work since April but is racing well,” Peters said.  “The 2400m of the Cup should suit and hopefully her rating will improve enough to make the field.”

Western Jewel is from the final crop of Lindsay Park sire Jeune.  Peters won the 2010 Perth Cup with Jeune gelding Lords Ransom.

Jeune mare Impressive Jeuney was the opening favourite for the Perth Cup after a game second to Playing God in the G1 Kingston Town Stakes on December 4.  She has drifted in betting since an unplaced effort in the C B Cox Stakes last Saturday.

Western Jewel’s 3yo half-brother Invading Force (Arazi) is trained by Simon Barrass and he was placed in a Belmont trial on Monday.  

Our Millster has a yearling colt by Darley sire Hard Spun and she foaled a filly by Arrowfield sire Charge Forward in September.