Former Perth Cup favourite Sentimental Hero is “better” than last time and is forgotten for 2026 edition

Despite going off favourite in last year’s Perth Cup (2400m), Sentimental Hero enters this year’s edition as the forgotten horse and is a $13 TABtouch chance for New Year’s Day’s $1 million race. A firm $3.50 elect to raise the 2025 trophy, Sentimental Hero led for the majority of the event but could find no extra from the turn and wilted to a 20-length last placing. But his trainer, Kalgoorlie king Peter Fernie, says despite the unfancied tag, the eight-year-old is a greater hope this time around than his previous attempt. “I think he’s going better,” Fernie said. “Last year, he was a bit over the top, and it was only my first prep with him.” Heading into the 2025 race, the son of Al Maher had followed the conventional staying route to the cup, including a win in the A J Scahill Cup (2100m). He had only been purchased by Fernie and stable clients five months previous for the comparatively small sum of $50,000, especially considering he eventually earned $150,000 in that maiden campaign. In the last 12 months, he’s banked an additional $330,000 with victories in both the Boulder and Kalgoorlie cups before a career-best performance when running third in WA’s most popular race, the Railway Stakes. Those efforts have earned him an impost of 58.5kg for this cup, opposed to the 53kg minimum he lofted last time. “He broke the weight carrying record in the Kalgoorlie Cup. He had 60.5kg there, so I don’t think the weight will worry him that much,” Fernie said. “It helps those that only have to carry 53kg but I think it makes less difference (this year).” Journeyman jockey Craig Newitt has become the new partner of the gelding, riding him in both the Railway and Northerly Stakes. Newitt has been yo-yo’ing across the country in recent days, riding Welcometotheshow ($9) to salute at Victoria’s Cranbourne circuit on Saturday, Jenni The Cat ($2.65f) at Tasmania’s Hobart track on Sunday and then both Pacific Chill ($6) and Brinson ($7) back at Victoria’s Yarra Valley on Monday. Fernie says Sentimental Hero’s only poor showing in the lead-up to the Perth Cup came in the Northerly Stakes. However, he makes an excuse and draws a line through a fellow cup starter for a better form reference. “This time, he’s only had one bad run when Craig tried to ride him quieter,” he said. “Diamond Scene has been half his price the whole way through (this preparation) but has only beaten him home in that race when he (Sentimental Hero) had a terrible run.” Diamond Scene ran ninth to Sentimental Hero’s 15th that day and is rated a $9 chance in cup betting. Fernie also starts Treble Maker (race five) and Secret Attraction (race eight) on the January 1 card, making cases for each. “Secret Attraction was great the other day and Treble Maker has drawn wide but there are only nine in it. They’ll both run well,” he said.