Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
In a beautiful spot throughout, Pericles (5 g Rubick – Empyrean, by O’Reilly) won the $50,000 Lodge Real Estate Open Handicap 1600 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.
Twelve months on from winning the Rating 75 1600 metres at the corresponding meeting last year, and having won the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1200m) among three wins as a three-year-old, Pericles has now won five times.
Ridden by Niranjan Parmar, Pericles could not have wished for a better trip behind pacemaker Giacomo (Puccini), and with the chasing pack a good four lengths astern turning for home, he was able to reel in the leader and go on for a strong victory.
On Soft5 footing, Pericles ran 1600 metres in 1:36.6, last 600m in 35.3 (approx.), and paid $11.30 & $2.70 on the NZ TAB tote.
“It was a textbook ride by Parmar and mapped as I saw it unfolding with Pericles being able to travel in second behind Giacomo,” Gerard said. “It doesn’t always go to plan, but it did this time and it ended up being a strong win.
“It was a good to have a genuine pace in race and Pericles certainly appreciated it. He’s bred to get further, still, and I think he will.
“He actually went a pretty good race last start at Ellerslie, after going too hard in front, but he’s settling a lot better now and that gives me the confidence to try him over more ground.
“He carries the Fletcher tartan colours and both Hugh (Fletcher) and Sian (Elias) were on hand to watch him win, so a good early Christmas present for them and the owners.”
Selected by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and purchased for $110,000 by Ballymore Stables at the Karaka 2022 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, Pericles is owned by Ballymore Racing NZ Ltd, Dame Sian Elias, Hugh Fletcher, C Lindberg, S Moutter, S O'Connor, Mrs J A & R A Paddon, A Schmedje & D G Devonport.
A robust type whose grand-dam Ethereal (Rhythm) won the Caulfield Cup / Melbourne Cup double, sire Rubick, by Champion stallion Encosta de Lago (Fairy King), was a fast horse that won twice as a two-year-old, renowned for injecting speed into his progeny and also the sire of $13m Everest (1200m) winner Yes Yes Yes.
Australian Champion Stayer and quadruple Group One winner, Ethereal (Rhythm) endeared herself to race fans when winning the 2001 Caulfield Cup (Gr. 1, 2400m) and Melbourne Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m).
Out of Romanee Conti (Sir Tristram), bred and owned by Sir Peter & Philip Vela and trained by Sheila Laxon, Ethereal became a household name after winning ‘The Cup’, with additional Group One victories in the Queensland Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), Caulfield Cup (Gr. 1, 2400m), and BMW (Gr. 1, 2400m), and her eight wins from twenty-one starts amassed earnings over $6 million.
Furthermore, great grand-dam Romanee Conti won the Hong Kong International Cup (HK1, 1800m) in 1993, one of her five stakes’ victories.
Gerard also saddled Sadhbh (Darci Brahma), who produced a top performance for close second in the previous race: Rating 65 2400 metres. “She was picked up near the line, whereas she really needs to be getting there late herself,” Gerard said.
“She’s raced better with the blinkers on, but just can’t see them coming. It was good to see her run out the mile and a half so strongly, and she’ll have ten days out in the paddock now and give her another couple of races heading into autumn.
“She’s been up a fair while and racing well, but she’s got more to come with a bit more time.”
Pericles was strapped by Leelu Singh.