Courtesy The West Australian website:

Final declarations for the Perth Cup close at 5pm Saturday. The barrier draw will be held at 6pm on the same day.

Trainer Fred Kersley says his cup hopes, ATA runners Play The Whistle and King Jugah, are unlikely, leaving new stable member Thunder Hawk as his sole acceptor.

Kersley was forced to rush Thunder Hawk's cup preparation because the gelding arrived at his Forrestdale property from Queensland only about seven weeks ago.

"We've had to step Thunder Hawk up in distance fairly quickly," Kersley said. "So he's not had the best preparation into the cup".

"The owners will decide whether they will push ahead with a cup start after he runs on Saturday."

Thunder Hawk was having his third WA start when he jumped from 1800m to 2400m at his last start and ran eighth to Higgins Gold in a restricted class Ascot handicap two weeks ago.

Trainer George Daly is confident WA Oaks-WATC Derby champion Honor Lap is no longer in season after running in that condition and finishing 11th in Saturday's Cox Stakes.

"She appears fine," Daly said. "Her work has been good and I am happy with her. But I'm not happy with her efforts in races."

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