He has had to settle for the minor prize in a handful of major races, but Godolphin’s Pericles has finally enjoyed his moment in the sun to take out the $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill.
The gelding was touched out in the 2023 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and last year’s Golden Eagle (1500m), before again finding one better when runner-up to Mr Brightside in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) and Celestial Legend in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) earlier this year.
Darren Beadman, representing head trainer James Cummings, said it was satisfying to see the horse triumph in a showpiece race on Saturday courtesy of a brilliant Kerrin Mcevoy ride.
“Pericles has been such a great campaigner for us. He has been around everything but the Bong Bong bike races,” Beadman said.
“Kerrin rode him such a lovely race.
“He is still a bit suspect at the distance (1800 metres), so we took the blinkers off and he relaxed well in the run.”
From an outside gate, McEvoy sooled Pericles forward and was able to position him fourth and trailing the speed.
He moved the horse into the race halfway up the straight but waited until the final stages to ask for a supreme effort, Pericles ($20) digging deep to hold out the fast-finishing Freedom Rally ($15) by a head with Yellow Brick ($9) a neck away third in a driving three-way finish.
“James (Cummings) said, ‘just roll the dice and see if you can get across from the draw’,” McEvoy said.
“He was able to get into a nice spot with a lovely bit of cover.
“He toughed it out well – he was fit and ready to go today. The little drop in grade helped.
“He’s a class horse and has been running at a very high level.”
Pericles had contested Group 1 company at two of his past three starts, finishing third to Buckaroo in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield three starts ago and in the second half of the field behind Ceolwulf last time out in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m).
Beadman said there was a chance Pericles could progress to The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange in two weeks.
“He is possibly seasoned enough to. He hit the line today with plenty of gusto,” Beadman said.
Attrition and Territory Express were sent out equal favourites with bookmakers at $4 and finished fourth and fifth respectively, the latter having to change course several times in the straight before finishing hard once clear in a luckless performance.