Pericles dominates So You Think Stakes at The Valley

A fitter Pericles showed he’ll be a force in the big spring G1 races when he scored an easy victory in the So You Think Stakes over 1,500m at The Valley on Saturday, 7 September.

Placed in the Silver Eagle, Golden Eagle, Futurity Stakes and Doncaster Mile, Pericles has been fantastic for Godolphin Australia with earnings of just under $4 million in 20 starts.

Third in the G2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes over 1,400m at Caulfield when resuming three weeks ago, Pericles (Street Boss) tracked tearaway leader Buffalo River to the home turn on Saturday before sprinting clear to beat Muramasa and Pounding by 2.5 lengths.

Head trainer James Cummings was thrilled with the performance and predicted even better results ahead.

“That might be the run that galvanizes him for the rest of the prep,” Cummings said.

“A good confidence-booster in the right race for the horse.

“It should set him up perfectly for the Underwood (Stakes) in two weeks’ time.

“He’s been in the firing line in good races, the Golden Eagle, Doncaster Mile and ran well behind Mr Brightside in The Futurity.

“Your narrow misses are a reflection of how hard it is.”

Cummings said Pericles was now in the right shape to win his first G1.

“He’s got the form behind him to suggest he’s capable of getting to the next level this prep this season,” the trainer said.

“He’s continued his excellent second-up record, so he’ll head to the Underwood in good shape and perhaps be back here (Randwick) after that for the right races.

“The early part of the preparation is out of the way, but it gets harder from here.”

Cummings also pulled the right rein, switching Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot) from Sydney to Melbourne.

Runner-up in the G3 Darley Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick two weeks ago, Silmarillion broke her maiden with a strong finish to win the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes.

The three-year-old filly beat Superlicious and Sergeant Major to open her Black-Type account at start number six.

“She’s come a long way in this preparation and they picked a nice option for her, so full credit to James and the team and to her,” McEvoy said.

“It was her first run this way and she handled it with aplomb. She handled it really well.”

At Royal Randwick, G1-winning mare Zardozi “pulled up all right” after finishing unplaced in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes over 1,600m.

“She had a good blow afterwards,” Cummings said.

“She just peaked on the run after doing a bit of chasing and she’ll be better for that.”