Trainer James Cummings has pencilled in the Group 1 Epsom Hcp for Pericles after the son of Street Boss (USA) made short work of a quality field in Saturday’s Group II Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
With Zac Lloyd in the saddle, Pericles led at every call to defeat Skyman (GB) (Mukhadram) by a length, with Hope In Your Heart (Dundeel) three-quarters of a length back in third.
The Group II MRC Caulfield Autumn Classic winner in February, Pericles advances his record to four wins, three seconds, and a third from 11 starts with earnings of $821,615.
“Full credit to Zac (Lloyd), who got the horse into a beautiful rhythm from the barrier, and he didn’t worry about being too close in the run,” Cummings said.
“Pericles has just come back in faultless fashion. Two out of two this prep and he’s enjoying himself.
“The time-honoured Channel 7 Stakes in two weeks looks pretty good. It’s sitting there at weight-for-age over a mile. If I choose to miss it then you go straight to the Epsom, but of course by winning the weight-for-age race in two weeks the weights will have already been out and he would be exempt from a penalty.
“Nevertheless, we can pick our mark with Pericles and he’s come back as a four-year-old a more mature horse. He’s actually only into his third racing campaign and he’s still growing and getting better and more confident.
“I can’t gallop him with any horses at home that are galloping any better than Pericles and it’s been a good sign early stages this campaign and he’s justifying it on the race track on the weekend. “That’s made our afternoon even better, even though we haven’t had a winner by half past four, we’ve had a pretty good day.”
Pericles is one of five stakes winners for Godolphin’s Blue Hen Accessories (GB) after the outstanding performers Helmet, Epaulette, Bullbars and Pearls.
Bullbars enjoyed Group 1 success as a sire on the day through the deeds of his remarkable son Mr Brighside in the Memsie Stakes.
Accessories (GB) has a 2-year-old colt by Microphone named Lavalier.
After missing in 2021, the daughter of Singspiel was covered by Ghaiyyath (IRE).
