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By Ray Hickson

The combination of ear muffs and a more typical autumn day have trainer James Cummings quietly confident that Pericles can hand him a first win in the time honoured Group 1 $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Whether it cost the colt victory in the Rosehill Guineas or not, it was evident Pericles didn’t cope with the warm conditions on Slipper Day as he went down by a narrow margin to Lindermann in the 2000m Group 1.

Cummings believes the fact the gelding sweated up badly and refused to settle pre-race had to have an effect.

“The horse got too hot in the enclosure, wasted a lot of energy firing up and melted on a very hot day,’’ Cummings said on SEN.

“The ear muffs will help dull the senses before they get whipped off and he’s ready to fire. The weather forecast looks pleasant, it won’t be a scorching hot day in the west like it was last time.

“If we can see a far better parade from that horse then there’s every reason to think he’s going to have just enough extra energy at the end of the mile and a half to be putting the other placegetters away, if you could imagine him winning and we hope he does.”

Pericles contested the Victoria Derby in the spring and finished midfield behind Manzoice but he’s had the benefit of that first preparation and had a steadier progression of distance.

He started $2.30 favourite in the Rosehill Guineas and sat second in the run and was a firming $4 second elect with TAB in the Derby on Thursday.

With the capacity field, Cummings expects the race to be a true staying test and he’s adamant his horse is charged right up to run it out.

“This going to be set up like a strong mile-an-a-half event, so he’s going to need to stay it out strongly,’’ he said.

“I think the best stayer will rise to the occasion and hopefully Pericles with the spark and turn-of-foot, his strength in training that he’s shown, two weeks between runs instead of the three weeks last time, should be perfectly set up.

“The preparation he’s had is more traditional this time. He’s had the grounding from his spring campaign.

“There’s no doubt he loomed up like he should have gone on and beaten Lindermann but that horse fought back. I don’t think you could say Pericles failed to stay it out.

“We’d like to think we’re ready to see his best performance this campaign.”

James Cummings on Cylinder (Inglis Sires): “He’s bred to get a comfortable seven furlongs, we won the race a few years ago with an Exceed And Excel colt called Microphone. (Cylinder) is out of a Steet Cry mare who won up to a mile.

“He was very strong on the line in the Golden Slipper in a high-pressure, six-furlong event. There was no slowing down in the run of Cylinder, it’s just a matter of fact he bumped into Shinzo who improved enough on the seven-day backup to explode past him. Cylinder shot to the front in the race at the 300m and was holding the rest safely.”

Pericles runs second in the Rosehill Guineas

On In Secret (TJ Smith): “I think the map is of great concern. Perhaps there’s a chance she gets a good run even if she’s three-wide with cover and we can deal with that. She’s come back from Melbourne so well. She’s still flying.

“We can go into the race with the confidence we’ve got the filly as well as we can have her.”

On Paulele (TJ Smith): “I could make a case for him to be the winner. He’s got excellent form. Not so long ago, he’s winning the Winterbottom like a star. Yet he found the 1000m first-up far too short, but he’s had a tick-over trial on Monday since then.

“We elected not to run the horse in the William Reid from the wide draw but I think the horse is feeling well and we think he can run a race.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 1 of The Star Championships at Randwick