Godolphin opt for easier Moonee Valley option
Missing a run in a Group 1 contest may provide Godolphin galloper Pericles a long overdue return to the winner’s enclosure at Moonee Valley.
Pericles is down to contest the So You Think Stakes (1500m) on Saturday, a new race at The Valley to compensate for the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) being moved to the Grand Final Eve meeting on September 27.
Trainer James Cummings and Godolphin elected to bypass taking on Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni last week in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield to concentrate on Saturday’s easier assignment.
If successful on Saturday, it will be Pericles’ first win since the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at the corresponding Sydney meeting last year.
While unsuccessful, Pericles has been a model of consistency, racking up placings in the Silver Eagle, the Golden Eagle, the Group 1 Futurity Stakes and the Group 1 Doncaster Mile.
Pericles also resumed his current campaign with a third-place finish in the Group 2 Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17.
“His last win was in the Tramway on this day 12 months ago, but he’s mixed it with some of the best since in races like the Silver and Golden Eagle, a placing in the Doncaster, unlucky in the Canterbury Stakes and placed in the Futurity,” Cummings said.
“He’s had a couple of almost campaigns, but he hasn’t quite broken through at the top level.”
As a younger horse, Pericles was tried as a stayer, finishing midfield in both the Victoria Derby and the Australian Derby, but as he has got older, the gelding is better suited to a middle distance.
Cummings said he is looking for a strong effort on Saturday as Pericles is being aimed towards the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21.
“He is stronger and tougher as an older horse this prep,” Cummings said.
“We know he improves vastly second-up, and this race fits in nicely as a lead-up to the Underwood where he’ll be ready to go third-up.”
More Racing News
Point King secures 2024 Melbourne Cup start
Owner Lloyd Williams has moved a step closer to winning an eighth Melbourne Cup after Irish-bred galloper Point King earned a start in the great race with a fighting win at Flemington. Point King took out the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) on Saturday to earn a ballot exemption into the Group...
Grinzinger Belle dominant in the Let’s Elope Stakes
Trainer Danny O’Brien is eyeing a Group 1 race during the Melbourne Cup Carnival with impressive Flemington winner Grinzinger Belle. Having her first start since competing in early winter at Caulfield, Grinzinger Belle registered an easy win in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. The Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes...
Godolphin colt stops Traffic in Group 1 Golden Rose audition
Traffic Warden has upstaged some of Sydney’s highest-profile colts to land an outstanding first-up win in The Run To The Rose, giving Godolphin its fourth successive victory in the Golden Rose lead-up. Trainer James Cummings confirmed the three-year-old would join stablemate Broadsiding in the Group 1 before a decision was made on whether to...
Sunshine shines brightly in The Everest audition
Her coat is yet to come through and she isn’t completely wound-up, but Sunshine In Paris has still managed to make a sparkling Everest statement with a dynamite win the Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill. Claiming the scalp of Joliestar, who had been equal favourite for the $20 million showpiece before Saturday, Sunshine...
Mr Brightside shines on dull Makybe Diva Stakes day at Flemington
Mr Brightside has exacted revenged on arch enemy Pride Of Jenni to take Group 1 honours in a thrilling race at Flemington. Having staged a thrilling contest last spring before renewing hostilities in the autumn, Mr Brightside got the upper hand over Pride Of Jenni in the closing stages to claim a second...
Encap bounces back to win the Theo Marks Stakes
Under-rated gelding Encap has shed his tag as a perennial bridesmaid with a gutsy victory in the Group Two Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill to confirm his Golden Eagle credentials. Coming into Saturday, the Gary Portelli-trained four-year-old had won just one race, the Ming Dynasty Quality on the corresponding program 12 months...
Racing TV pioneer Graham McNeice dies at 76
The Australian horse racing industry is mourning the death of racing television pioneer Graham McNeice who has died at 76 years of age in Sydney. Queensland-born, McNeice achieved his success in radio and television predominantly in New South Wales initially as an understudy racecaller and as a producer and presenter at...
Three-pronged Jolly attack on Wylie Handicap
Trainers Richard Jolly and Chantelle Jolly will look to add another early season feature race win to their record when they saddle three runners in a Stakes race in Adelaide. Having already saluted with See You In Heaven in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes at Morphettville last month, the pair will saddle...
Bold Bastille suited back to filly’s grade in Cap D’Antibes Stakes
The Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and Jd Hayes is viewing a return to a filly’s race at Flemington being the ideal opportunity for Bold Bastille to get back into winning form. The Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday is restricted to three-year-old fillies and is a race the...
Cummings chases another Run To The Rose
When James Cummings was contemplating first-up options for Traffic Warden, it was no surprise the Run To The Rose was prominent in his thoughts. Cummings has won the $300,000 Group 2 five times, four as Godolphin’s head trainer in Australia, including the past three. He is using the set-weights-and-penalties contest to give Traffic...