Positive signs for Pericles in G2 Ajax Stakes

A terrific second-up record, a liking for the Rosehill Gardens track and a drop in grade give Godolphin head trainer James Cummings optimism that Pericles can return to best form in Saturday’s G2 Ajax Stakes over 1,500m.

Runner-up in the G1 Doncaster Mile 11 months ago and a winner of the Listed Five Diamonds at Rosehill last November, Pericles appeared slightly disappointing when eighth to Mr Brightside in the G1 Futurity Stakes 1,400m at Caulfield three weeks ago when resuming from a spell.

Cummings decided to return the five-year-old to Agnes Banks and picked the Ajax Stakes as his first Sydney autumn carnival mission.
A three-time winner, with two placings second-up, Pericles has pleased Cummings in training and, although burdened with 59kg under the quality handicap conditions, is expected to run well.

“I think he can bounce back, but one thing I can draw your attention to is that he has an Olympic second-up record,” the trainer said.

“I know he’s got his fair share of weight allotted, and he’s earned every bit of it, but if (jockey) James McDonald can get him into a position he’ll run a race.

“He loves the track and he’s just humming, giving us every indication he’s going to improve second-up.
“He is one to look out for, this is his go – a little step off the top level.”

With no Mr Brightside or Tom Kitten to contend with, Pericles has the early speed to put himself into a position and just needs a touch of luck from barrier eight.

Stablemate Pisanello (Zac Lloyd) has drawn the same barrier in the G3 Maurice McCarten Stakes over 1,100m but is lightly weighted and one of the most promising gallopers in the Cummings yard.

The four-year-old put together a hat-trick of restricted wins last spring and could be aimed at feature sprints in coming weeks if he returns as well as expected.

“I’m kicking myself running this horse so far out of the handicap (53kg), but I would say he’s raced his way through the grades and therefore earned his stripes against the better horses,” Cummings said.

“This race could set up beautifully for Pisanello, with the pace of the race he could sit back and he could really race home strongly.

“He gets a substantial amount of weight off a horse like Coal Crusher, and I like the way he’s prepped up for this first-up tilt.”

“Maybe we’ll pay the price (handicaps), but that will launch him into the conversation for harder races.
“We are happy with the way he’s going so sometimes you’ve got to take the win, if you can get it.”

Cummings also has Comedy (Chad Schofield) and Barbarossa (Lloyd) entered in the G3 Pago Pago Stakes for the two-year-old colts and geldings over 1,200m, with improving juvenile filly Custom (Rachel King) an acceptor in the G3 Magic Night Stakes 1,200m.

Barbarossa and Custom are also in a maiden at Gosford on Saturday, with Cummings yet to decide where they will run.

“Comedy is feeling very well, he’s on the brink of already being in the Golden Slipper,” Cummings said.
“So I’ve got that to think about, but if we are content to run him he’s ready to run a big race.

“He wasn’t suited by the slow pace last start in the Skyline.”

“If we are prepared to forgive him that run, where he raced home beautifully from back in the field, this is a good level for Comedy to prove he’s still in the mix.

“Realistically, Comedy is our Champagne Stakes horse and he’s a colt who we are looking forward to seeing up over further.

“I think he’s an interesting colt and he’s going to improve on what he showed in the Skyline last time.”

“Barbarossa was full of running in the ‘coffin’ at Canterbury behind State Visit and he had something to offer.
“He’s been improving all the time, with three runs he’s running better and better.

“With his big pedigree and frame, it’s of no surprise to us.
“He just continues to put in blistering gallops.

“He could be the big improver and perhaps I don’t want to see that wasted in a maiden.”

Custom missed the start badly at Canterbury on debut and then was only narrowly beaten there at her second run.

“She is in the same boat (Gosford), but she’s well-bred and talented filly,” Cummings said.

“She was a lot better last time, a good effort to knuckle down, and that could be enough to give her an opportunity against these fillies.
“I’ll think about that, but the maiden option is probably the more suitable.” 

G1 winner Zardozi (Jamie Melham) will fly the royal blue flag at Caulfield when she has her third start back this preparation against a small field in the G2 Peter Young Stakes over 1,800m.

Eighth to Fangirl in the G2 Apollo Stakes 1,400m at Randwick on 15 February, the 2023 Victoria Oaks queen ran home strongly when third to Marble Arch in the G2 Blamey Stakes over 1,600m at Flemington two weeks ago.

“She’s coming along beautifully, perfectly to plan arriving here in the Peter Young at weight-for-age and third-up,” Cummings said.

“I liked the way she improved from one run to the next in the Blamey.
“This race, two weeks before the Australian Cup, is the perfect stepping stone.

“She has come on in her fitness, she is perfectly prepared to run well.
“I would make this observation – she’ll improve again fourth-up, if we follow the pattern of her past preparations.”

The Godolphin trio Chergui (Ben Melham), Cloisters (Jamie Melham) and Cryoseisms (Craig Williams), all by former Darley shuttle stallion Frosted, will contest the VOBIS Platinum Showdown over 1,200m.

“I sent our three VOBIS Showdown runners to Caulfield on Tuesday, and they were not there to lick stamps,” Cummings said.

“They came away with good gallops under their belts and one of them (Cloisters) might have worked a little too well.

“They pulled up as good as they galloped and they arrive into the $1 million race in good spirits, beautiful and sound.

“One (Cloisters) comes off a last-start win, one (Chergui) comes out of a harder race, and one with the blinkers going on after being placed in a maiden – but with the pedigree of a horse who is entitled to improve.

“We’ve got a mixture of form, but the boys are happy with targeting the Showdown with them all ready to run the best races of their preps.”