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By Ray Hickson

Godolphin trainer James Cummings is convinced Pericles can still prove himself as a middle distance performer having largely kept him to no further than a mile in the past 12 months.

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Bradley Photos)

That was until he stretched to 1800m when running third in the Underwood Stakes three weeks ago - he has another half furlong to travel in Saturday’s Group 2 $2 million Toyota Forklifts Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill.

Cummings was quick to point out Pericles was the last man standing in the Underwood having ridden the speed from a wide gate and was rapt with how he boxed on to hold the minor placing.

“He’s a nine furlong winner and he was very brave over nine furlongs last start in the Underwood on top of a strong tempo,’’ Cummings said.

“The opposition made him work early and it was a very testing race, he was brave to still be sticking on late.

“It’s easy to draw the conclusion that Pericles doesn’t stay on that well at the end of 1800m.

“He stayed better than the rest of the field that couldn’t beat him home into a placing that day having been vulnerable from up on top of the pace.

“The quinella (Buckaroo and Huetor) in the race came from last and second-last in the run.”

Pericles hasn’t raced in Sydney since his close second to Celestial Legend in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile back in April, and he was narrowly beaten in the Golden Eagle this time last year, and Cummings said despite having had three runs already this campaign he’s still on the way up.

“Pericles has taken good fitness from that Underwood, but he still doesn’t look fully fit yet,” he said.

“It’s amazing, he came back from Melbourne in unbelievably good condition and we are still building towards his peak.”

The gelding has three placings at 2000m against his record from his three-year-old season and contested both the VRC and ATC Derby, finishing midfield in each.

While Cummings isn’t taking anything for granted he said Pericles, $4.20 with TAB on Thursday, looks likely to be in possession of an ideal passage from barrier four with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

“He gets a gorgeous run from the barrier at weight-for-age,” he said.

“There’s a number of chances, it’s certainly the right race for him but it’s a very strong race.

“Consider that the second and third favourites from the Epsom, who finished third and fourth, are on the back up and I think there’s a number of runners in good form.”

Snack Bar re-emerges from a month between runs in the Listed $500,000 Tapp-Craig (1400m) having chased home subsequent Group 1 winner Lady Shenandoah at his last start.

Cummings said the grey missed a run between the Ming Dynasty and this start so, despite having compensated with a trial, is a bit conscious of that fact heading into the task of offsetting another wide gate.

“Lady Shenandoah down in the weights and Mayfair, fighting on and getting the better of Snack Bar at the end - that’s good form coming into this,” he said.

“Snack Bar comes in to barrier 10 with a couple of scratchings, but from his wider draw he might need to do a little bit of work early.

Snack Bar runs third in the Ming Dynasty

“That’s his style and he can be running a good race here.

“He’s going to know he’s in a horse race and it would be good to see him emerge as one of our horses who continues to elevate.”

Meanwhile, Cummings reported to stewards on Thursday that his TAB Everest runner Traffic Warden had sustained some minor abrasions to both hocks in a stable incident.

He says it’s nothing of concern at this point and the colt will be subject to a vet inspection along with the other 11 runners in the lead up to the $20 million Group 1 sprint.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting