PERICLES SET TO LAND MAIDEN GROUP 1

JAMES Cummings has aimed Pericles at the Underwood Stakes (1800m) with his plan for the enigmatic galloper to land his first Group 1 race and he is exuding confidence he can do so at Caulfield on Saturday.

Cummings said Pericles had a confidence boosting win at his last start when he romped in with the So You Think Stakes at The Valley on September 7.

“The way the horse has come on since that confidence-boosting win in the So You Think Stakes is ideal,” Cummings said on RSN.

“He’s had the right preparation for the Underwood, and the patient approach to get the horse to peak for one of the early middle-distance G1s of the Victorian spring.”

Cummings said Pericles had his best chance to win a Group 1 since he finished second to Linderman in the 2023 Rosehill Guineas as a three-year-old which he tackled at his third run back from a spell which is what he is doing in the Underwood Stakes.

Cummings pointed out that in 2023 Pericles won the Autumn Classic at Sandown over 1800m, a distance he will again be racing over in the Underwood Stakes.

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Cummings said the Underwood Stakes was often won by a high-class galloper such as Mr Brightside but it didn’t appear there was a galloper of that calibre in the race.

“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,” Cummings said.

“Pericles is well set up third-up from a spell, he loved that nine-furlong challenge at Sandown as a three-year-old.”

“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. It reads pretty well.”

Pericles, who will be ridden by Blake Shinn, is a $3.20 favourite with PlayUp. Second favourite is the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Place Du Carousel at $4.40.

BEST BET

PERICLES (Caulfield R8, No.2)

Returned to the winner’s circle with a ridiculously soft kill in the So You Think Stakes. Blake Shinn always had the race in his keeping, and he could have won by more than two and a half lengths.

This race should again set-up well for him as he can settle behind the likely front runner in Deny Knowledge and Shinn should again be able to control the race. He’s won over 1800m before and his three runs at Caulfield have all been sound. He’ll never get a better chance to win a Group 1.