Never further back than fourth in his five starts since joining the Bjorn Baker stable, Godolphin’s 6yo Street Boss gelding Pericles secured his first G1 victory, winning the MRC Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, becoming the third elite level winner for his dam.
With Yulong’s multiple G1-winning Alabama Express mare Treaurethe Moment starting short-priced favourite and expected to add a fifth elite level score to her impressive record, the Damian Lane ridden 4yo mare jumped quickly as the gates opened, eventually working her way to the lead.
Evaporate (NZ) sat in second on the outside of the Matt Laurie trained mare while Veight was tracking along wide as the previously Western Australian trained Watch Me Rock came along the rail, pushing the Craig Williams ridden Pericles back into fifth.
As the tempo increased 800m from home, Treaurethe Moment took the field into the home straight where Evaporate commenced his short-lived challenge, with the leader kicking strongly and looking like the winner at the 200m.
Williams and Pericles had other ideas as the pair came off the heels of the tiring Evaporate, sprinting strongly over the final 100m to reel in Treasurethe Moment to secure his first G1 victory.
Having his first run since finishing last in the G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), the Chris Waller trained Fastnet Rock gelding Buckaroo (GB) produced a top-notch effort to charge into second, just ahead of Treaurethe Moment who held on for third.
Another from the Waller camp noted working home late was last season’s G1 NZ Oaks winner Leica Lucy (NZ) to finish in fifth.
Godolphin’s Andy Makiv was on course to speak about the win of Pericles.
“Amazingly satisfying,” enthused Makiv. “He’s been a fabulous horse. He's a home-bred off Northwood Park, the stud here in Victoria by our fantastic stallion Street Boss.
“So for him to achieve Group One glory is wonderful for so many people and he's just been a great horse, near on $7 million prize money, so fabulous.”
When queried about the transition from James Cummings to Bjorn Baker, Makiv used another of Baker’s war-horses as a measuring stick.
“I had a feeling he’d suit Bjorn, said Makiv. “I just loved what Bjorn had done with that Vancouver horse (Overpass) he's got and travelled around. In fairness, I thought he might be a horse for WA for Bjorn to take because he’s had a great record over there in those races and since Bjorn's had him, he said, 'don't worry about WA, worry about Melbourne and Sydney.'
“It's been a great journey and really pleased for all the team and pleased for Bjorn. It's great.”
With Pericles likely to clash with fellow Godolphin horse Tom Kitten in the All-Star Mile, Makiv was non-committal as to who he felt was the better chance.
“I suspect they'll be running in the same race at Flemington, so they'll both get their chance. May the best horse win or hopefully one of them wins— so obviously it'll be a tough race and great to see this horse join the group one company and he can go to that race and take on Tom Kitten, it'll be great.”
Recording his third successive Futurity win, jockey Craig Williams pin-pointed Pericles as a contender.
“Well coming into the autumn when Mr Brightside’s not going to be here, I said, I need a replacement,” said Williams. “Not easy to fill those shoes, so I got in touch with Bjorn Baker.”
“I didn't think Tom Kitten was an option at the time either, so very grateful for the ownership group, Godolphin, Andy Makiv, Jason, all their team that they do all this work.
“But Bjorn Baker's done an amazing job with this horse. I remember Blake riding him maybe a couple of seasons ago, and I think he's a group one horse and he was just below them.
“It looks like he's gone to another level in the spring. To win a group one, well done to all the team behind them and their patience.
“It was good. I got to go up and sit on him in a couple of jump outs up there. But he's very much a pleasure to ride.”
Taking his prizemoney to $6,979,365 from eight wins and 12 placed performers, the Godolphin bred Pericles is one of three G1 winners from six winners out of blue hen Accessories (GB) (Singspiel).
Accessories is also the dam of fellow G1 winners Helmet and Epaulette, as well as Group winner Pearls and Bullbars, while her final foal is the unraced 2yo Ghaiyaath (IRE) filly named Abaya, who has been sent to Anthony and Sam Freedman to train.
Pericles became the 12th individual G1 winner for Darley’s Street Boss who was also represented by last Saturday’s G1 Lightning Stakes winner Tentyris, while his 2yo son Street Boss finished second in today's G1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
