Pericles became the first horse of Godolphin\u2019s new era to win an Australian stakes race when delivering emphatically first-up for new trainer Bjorn Baker at Royal Randwick on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Godolphin moved to a public training model this season with the likes of Sydney trainers Chris Waller<\/a>, Joe Pride<\/a> and Michael Freedman<\/a> already having success with the Royal Blue.<\/p>\n Baker<\/a> added his name to the list on a big occasion when Pericles<\/a> stormed home to prevail for the second time in the Group 2 $300,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m)<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2022 PUNT LIKE A PRO<\/a>: Become a Racenet iQ member<\/a> and get expert tips \u2013 with fully transparent return on investment statistics \u2013 from Racenet\u2019s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips<\/a> section. SUBSCRIBE NOW<\/a>!<\/p>\n Pericles won the 2023 Tramway Stakes while still trained by James Cummings before he become the third horse in the past seven years to win the race twice.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is very laid-back, very straightforward and huge to win for Godolphin,\u201d Baker said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a bit of a racing purist and history buff.<\/p>\n \u201cMy father (former trainer Murray Baker) is here today – he goes back into the 1700s \u2013 to win a race for a global superpower like Godolphin is a huge thrill for me, my family and my team.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe all know how important it is and how lucky we are. He\u2019s a very good horse. Anybody could train him.\u201d<\/p>\n Pericles ($9.50) was ridden with cover by jockey Josh Parr<\/a> in behind the lead and only needed clear to get his chance in the straight.<\/p>\n \u2022 Nash stays loyal as Lindermann bounces back in Chelmsford<\/a><\/p>\n When the gap came, the son of Street Boss let down powerfully to score by one-and-a-quarter lengths from Joe Pride\u2019s Private Eye<\/a> ($2.10 favourite) while the John Thompson<\/a>-trained With Your Blessing<\/a> ($19) was half a length away in third.<\/p>\n \u201cIt all worked out really well and I\u2019m really glad he was able to put the race away so easily and so well considering we were so confident coming here today on how he\u2019d been working,\u201d Parr said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe felt (like the winner) I must say, I just needed that little bit of luck when we straightened that they split and obviously such a big horse, he was able to manoeuvre his way through quite comfortably and he showed a really good turn of foot.\u201d<\/p>\n Private Eye went forward from a wide draw and did all the work from out in front before only being overrun late.<\/p>\n Jockey Nash Rawiller<\/a> said he was \u201cpretty proud\u201d with Private Eye\u2019s effort after he only found one better on the day while Alysha Collett<\/a> praised With Your Blessing\u2019s \u201ctough\u201d effort.<\/p>\n