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Being allocated the outside alley in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap encouraged James Cummings to revert to the original plan with Pericles, but the star trainer is confident he will cope with the extra distance of the Hill Stakes.
The five-year-old son of Street Boss, whose three runs this campaign have been in Melbourne, returns to Sydney for that 1900-metre Group 2 in preference to the 1600m Toorak.
The Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) for three-year-olds is the longest race Pericles has won and while the Hill Stakes presents a tough challenge in open company, Cummings said he has the draw to get his chance.
The son of Street Boss, who is a half-brother to Helmet, Epaulette and Bullbars, will start from barrier four with Nash Rawiller to ride.
“It’s amazing, he came back from Melbourne in unbelievably good condition and we are still building towards his peak,” Cummings said.
“He gets a gorgeous run from the barrier (four) at weight-for-age.
“There’s a number of chances, but it’s a very strong race and I think there’s a number of runners in good form.”
Pericles was unplaced at single-figure odds in both the Victoria Derby (2500m) and ATC Australian Derby (2400m) but his only other starts beyond 1800m realised a second placing in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and third in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m).
The gelding heads into the Hill Stakes off a four-length third placing in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), which followed a dominant win in the 1500m So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley.
“He was very brave over nine furlongs last start in the Underwood on top of a strong tempo,” Cummings said.
“The opposition made him work early and it was a very testing race. He was brave to still be sticking on late.
“He stayed on well at 1800m, stayed on better than most of the field having been vulnerable from up on top of the pace.”
Pericles is $4.20 second favourite with betting sites in Australia for the Hill Stakes, in which last week’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) third placegetter Royal Patronage is the $3.50 favourite.
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