It will never erase the memories of being beaten in the $10 million Golden Eagle, but Godolphin felt a lot of pride watching stable favourite Pericles win an overdue big-money Rosehill feature.
Pericles was just pipped by Japanese raider Obamburumai in the feature Golden Eagle a tick over 12 months ago.
Kerrin McEvoy rides Pericles to victory on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
On Saturday, at the same western Sydney track, Pericles dug deep to hold off Queensland raiders Freedom Rally and Yellow Brick to win the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m).
The giant gelding was always going to be suspect over the trip, especially once he drew wide. But jockey Kerrin McEvoy was able to go forward early on Pericles in the leading pack, and nursed him coming to the turn to ensure he was there at the end.
Godolphin stable representative Darren Beadman was never going to celebrate early after learning the hard way in the Golden Eagle.
“This horse has always been knocking on the door, and he’s one of those horses who doesn’t know how to run a bad race,” Beadman said.
“He’s such a placid animal, and you don’t realise how big he is. I know I’m vertically challenged, but when you put a saddle on him, he’s very tall with a lot of substance to him. He adds a lot of enthusiasm to the camp.”
Pericles, which is related to three-time group 1 winner Helmet, is likely to aim up in The Gong in a fortnight.
The horse, which raced exclusively in group 1 company in the autumn, then ran third in the Underwood Stakes in September, would have left many wondering how on earth he started at $20 with the bookies.
Territory Express and Attrition started $4 joint favourites, the former flashing home yet again.
Pride of Jenni retires after $10m in winnings
Australian Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni has been retired from racing after bleeding from both nostrils during the $3 million Champions Mile at Flemington on Saturday.
Owner Tony Ottobre said his $10 million-winning mare, who shocked rivals with her front-running victory in this year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, would be sent to the breeding paddock.
“I love Equinox as a sire and if we can, that’s where she will go,” Ottobre said.
Pride Of Jenni, under new jockey Ben Melham, led the field into the Flemington straight in the group 1 event but then tired badly as her arch rival Mr Brightside burst to the front and notched up his eighth group 1 victory.
Pride Of Jenni finished seven-lengths last, following her disappointing 16th length eighth in the Cox Plate.
Tony Ottobre and Pride of Jenni at Cranbourne Training Centre.Credit: Wayne Taylor
While Mr Brightside continues to win admirers for his ability to keep winning at the highest level, the prize for the win of the day at Flemington went to Chris Waller’s all-conquering Cox Plate champion Via Sistina.
The mare won the $3 million Group 1 Champions Stakes in a canter.
The victory was super hoop James McDonald’s 11th win of the Flemington carnival, breaking his own record.
Win qualifies North England for Slipper
Gai Waterhouse says you can never beat “Breeders Plate form” after North England clung to victory in the $1 million Golden Gift (1100m) and earned more than enough prizemoney to qualify for the Golden Slipper.
North England finished third in the Breeders Plate five weeks ago, and was always going to benefit from that run when returning to the races at Rosehill.
Waterhouse asked why the Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes, the season-opening race for fillies, were not worth much more in prizemoney. They carry a $250,000 purse, which is a quarter of the Golden Gift loot.
“It just goes to show that you can’t beat Breeders Plate form – it is sensational year after year,” Waterhouse said.
“It also tells me that the Breeders Plate and the Gimcrack Stakes should be worth a lot more money; they should be worth as much as the Golden Gift.”
North Enland wins the Golden Gift.Credit: Getty Images
Jockey Tim Clark thought North England would have jumped better, but was still able to slide forward from the favourable barrier, and despite getting a little lost late in the race. Runner-up West Of Swindon could have easily won with a better barrier.
The wife of China Horse Club founder Teo Ah Khing was the one who came up with the horse’s North England name.
Belclare heads west, but needs new jockey
Belclare has earned herself a shot at the group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) following another all-the-way win in the Hot Danish Stakes – but the in-form mare might need a new jockey.
Tyler Schiller was impressed by Belclare, but also aware he had been hit at the start of the day with a two-week suspension, which starts after next weekend.
The stewards ran out of time to deal with Schiller last weekend because they needed time to settle on hefty fines for visiting jockeys Cieren Fallon and Antonio Orani before they left the country.
Schiller was punished for shifting in on Makarena early in the Eagle, which forced Tommy Berry and Corazon Beat to take hold.
Trainer Bjorn Baker was weighing up a trip west if Belclare could win again, and stable representative Luke Hilton confirmed the Railway Stakes on November 23 was now a target.
“The best is yet to come when she gets to those big group 1 races; she’s in flying form, and I’d love to stick with her,” Schiller said.
Farewell party
Joao Moreira banked a winning double before farewelling Sydney once again and flying home to see family in Brazil for the first time in six weeks.
The “Magic Man”, who scored back-to-back wins on Chris Waller’s pair Kadavar and Modesty at Rosehill, will ride in Sao Paulo next weekend, before meetings in Hong Kong, Argentinas and then Uruguay.
Ballroom blunder
Which senior racing figure was barred from The Ballroom at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day because he did not have the proper accreditation?
with Danny Russell
