Chance for Pericles to post first G1 and join greats of the Australian turf.

Pericles gets an opportunity to finally seal his Group 1 credentials and join a list of some of the greatest horses to ever race in Australia when the Godophin-trained galloper lines up in the time-honoured Underwood Stakes over 1,800m at Caulfield on Saturday. 
Won by champions Phar Lap, Heroic, Ajax, Lord, Tobin Bronze, Bonecrusher, Octagonal, Northerly and So You Think since first run at the Williamstown Racecourse 100 years ago, the Underwood is steeped in tradition and a “top-class” race traditionally won by the best spring horses.
But with weight-for-age stars Mr Brightside, Pride Of Jenni and Via Sistina absent this year, GA head trainer James Cummings believes Pericles can make the step up in class and distance after his stunning victory in the So You Think Stakes 1,500m at Moonee Valley two weeks ago.
“I think it’s his best chance to win a G1 since the Rosehill Guineas as a three-year-old, coming off that outstanding victory at Sandown in the Autumn Classic,” Cummings said.
“I think there’s no shortage of class in the field, but the race hasn’t got the established superstar that the Underwood can tend to have.
“One thing about the Underwood Stakes is that it’s a top-class race for horses to win, the history book tells us that.
“Unless one of these horses is about to be the next Lindsay Park silent mark assassin, like Mr Brightside and win seven G1s, one of these horses needs to emerge.”
Runner-up in the Rosehill Guineas and the G1 Doncaster Mile, Pericles is nearing peak fitness and should race handy to the lead with leading Melbourne jockey Blake Shinn in the saddle despite drawing wide in barrier 11.
“He’s well set up third-up from a spell, he loved that nine-furlong challenge at Sandown as a three-year-old,” Cummings said.
“This is the first time I’ve run the horse over that distance since and he has the tactical speed to put himself right up there on a 6m rail.
“The way the horse has come on since that confidence-boosting win in the So You Think Stakes is ideal.
“He’s had the right preparation for the Underwood and the patient approach to get the horse to peak for one of these early middle-distance G1s of the Victorian spring.”
Shinn will also partner improving filly Silmarillion when she contests the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes.
A stylish winner of the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes at Moonee Valley on 7 September, the filly rises to 1,400m but has drawn ideally in barrier one.
“Inside gate, destined to enjoy the perfect run, with Blake Shin on board, I think it’s going to look pretty good for her,” Cummings said.
“She’s by this emerging sire sensation Too Darn Hot, she’s a half-sister to Kementari so we shouldn’t have too much trouble stepping her out to seven furlongs.
“With an economical run, it would be crazy to think she couldn’t fire here, the way she has progressed.”
Stablemates Commemorative (Jamie Kah) in the Tour d’Horse Sprint over 1,100m and Red Card (Mark Zahra) in the Here For The Horses Plate over 1,200m are also expected to run boldly.
Cummings will wait until early on Saturday to decide whether G1-winning mare Zardozi runs in the G3 Kingston Town Stakes 2,000m with Kerrin McEvoy to ride or in the 7+ Sport Stakes over 1,600m with Zac Lloyd in the saddle at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
“We’ve accepted in two races and one of the consequences was that she became an emergency in the Kingston Town,” the trainer said. 
“Having done our research, the Kingston Town usually has on average about four-and-a-half scratchings.
“We’ve only had the one scratching, but I’m reliably informed there will be another at the very least.
“She should gain a start and we will have the option.
“While it might appear obvious that she’s three times more likely to win the Kingston Town than the 7+ Stakes, the 7+ Stakes is a classy race.
“Although last week I thought that she’d be running in the Kingston Town, the momentum swing would be with the 7+ Stakes just because it might set her up.
“Either way, I’m delighted with the mare and although she was beaten out of a placing (first-up), she wasn’t beaten far in the Chelmsford.
“The rail was out a long way on the day and the track was dry.
“The horses that were up and in on the day continued to come to the fore.
“It was a little difficult for her to get into the race a little sooner and keep finishing off as a young mare against those tougher, older weight-for-age horses. 
“She may have taken a bit of benefit from that and I’ve certainly seen that in her trackwork.”
A reinvigorated Tom Kitten (James McDonald) resumed in emphatic style at Rosehill Gardens five weeks ago and will use the G3 Bill Ritchie Handicap over 1,400m as a springboard into the G1 Epsom Handicap 1,600m at Randwick early next month.
“He hit the ground running first-up as a gelding,” Cummings said.
“We mean business with Tom Kitten as a four-year-old; there’s big races ahead for him and we have been super patient to wait for the Bill Ritchie second-up.
“Bill Ritchie winners are weight-for-age winners in waiting, so it’s going to be no mean feat from barrier 15 to be flooding home up the middle over the top of these horses.
“But if he keeps rising to the challenge, on the doorstep of the Epsom two weeks later, there is an opportunity for Tom Kitten to lay down the gauntlet and put himself down there as a genuine Randwick G1 mile contender.
“There are no (handicap) consequences if Tom Kitten was to steam home, and the way he trained on Tuesday morning I think we have him ready to go.”
The talented but luckless Aft Cabin has promised much but needs a strong showing in the G2 Shorts over 1,100m to stay in contention for Godolphin’s slot in the $20 million The Everest at Randwick in October.  
“Last preparation the best jockey in the country thought Aft Cabin might be the horse to watch in the autumn carnival,” Cummings revealed.
“He went from being the horse to watch to our stable’s Trojan horse.
“Maybe the time has come for Aft Cabin to write his own quotes, it’s time for him to deliver.
“He finds himself here with a wide draw to give himself plenty of room.
“Was it true that he was racing disingenuously between horses first-up?
“He had a barrier trial (Concorde Stakes), instead of following Bella Nipotina he went into the rough behind Giga Kick and at no stage did the horse get a chance.
“With all the stored energy from the Concorde this prep, he’s going to charge into The Shorts here.
“He’s demonstrated that in his training, but he’s just got to get out there and do it.
“There’s the cauldron of an Everest build-up, so we are wheeling in Aft Cabin.
“There’s nowhere to hide, so we’ll be keen to see what bombs he can let off.”
McEvoy has the ride and the pair has drawn barrier 11 in The Shorts.