Chris Waller and Kerrin McEvoy will sit down later in the week to work out how to overcome the outside barrier with Epsom favourite Autumn Glow, but for Bjorn Baker-trained Pericles it will be a little more plain sailing in the big mile.
Pericles, who’s second pick in the betting at $8, came up with gate five, that is perfect for his racing style.
“When he got that gate I had a little smile. It was what I would have chosen if I had a pick,” Baker said. “Josh [Parr] won’t have to do any work to put him where we want near the lead, which is an advantage.”
Baker will look to break a frustrating run for Pericles in big races, including runner-up finishes in the Rosehill Guineas, Golden Eagle and Doncaster, while under the care of James Cummings.
“He came to me a ready-made horse with a good record,” Baker said. “Working with an organisation like Godolphin is unreal and we were able to get a result with him in the Tramway Stakes [his second win in the race].”
“He has gone on from there and his work this morning [Tuesday] was very good and then we got the gate we wanted.”
“Things seem to be working out for him.”
Surprisingly, bookmakers are still not taking any risks with the unbeaten Autumn Glow, despite drawing 14 of 14 in the Epsom.
Her style is to get up near the speed and then work through her gears, but that might not happen at Randwick. She has made a habit of putting away rivals with a sharp, sustained sprint, but she will be tested on Saturday.
Baker will keep it simple with Pericles, who will be in the firing line, and he has good chances in the other Group 1 with Arapaho in the Metropolitan and Within The Law in the Flight Stakes.
“We got a good gate for Within The Law, which was important with her,” Baker said. “Arapaho gets to a trip where he is at his best and he earned a big weight but he has a dash of quality.”
