Godolphin guns Zardozi, Pericles and Tom Kitten back at the trials as spring carnival looms

It might be mid-winter but reappearance of the three proven Group 1 performers is a tell-tale sign that the spring carnival is near.

Zardozi wins the Phar Lap Stakes.

Godolphin’s talented trio Zardozi, Pericles and Tom Kitten pleased trainer James Cummings with encouraging barrier trial efforts at Warwick Farm on Monday.

It might be mid-winter but reappearance of the three proven Group 1 performers is a tell-tale sign that the spring carnival is near.

Zardozi, winner of the Victoria Oaks last spring and a close second in the ATC Australian Oaks earlier this season, was given a very easy trial by under Zac Lloyd as she cruised home in sixth position behind former stablemate Northumbria, now trained by Richard Litt.

Rising four-year-old Zardozi is one of the most promising stayers in training and is at $26 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Caulfield Cup and $34 for the Melbourne Cup.

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Zardozi is on track for a big spring.

Pericles, winner of the Group 3 Tramway Stakes and runner-up in the Golden Eagle, Doncaster Mile and Futurity Stakes during the season, was also kept under a tight hold in his trial, finishing fourth albeit more than 10 lengths behind the speed and very impressive, a new stable recruit for trainer Joe Pride.

Cummings is likely to aim Pericles at the Epsom Handicap in the spring where the gelding is rated on the third line of betting at $15.

Tom Kitten, winner of the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes, was the standout of Godolphin’s big guns.

"Tom Kitten hard held but made ground."

The @PrideRacing trained Global Empire gets the better of Munitions in a trial at Warwick Farm on Monday with Cosmonova in third. Group 1 winner Tom Kitten, now a gelding, finished on their heels. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/9vzcgrdEqC

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 15, 2024

Lloyd could barely hold Tom Kitten who was very strong through and past the line, finishing a close fourth to Global Empire. The Godolphin gelding is at $26 for The Metropolitan.

Trainer Adrian Bott revealed brilliant Silver Slipper winner Straight Charge has suffered a setback and won’t race this spring.

Bott also confirmed Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot and top colts Storm Boy and Espionage are in work at Tulloch Lodge.

Bott said Lady Of Camelot is likely to resume in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley with ambitions of securing a slot in The Everest.

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⚜️ Yulong-owned 2YO colt, Straight Charge (Written By x Matryoshka) dominates the G2 Silver Slipper S. for @GaiWaterhouse1 and Adrian Bott at @aus_turf_club Rosehill 🚀

Bred by Scott Robertson, we purchased him @mmsnippets GC from @LimeCountryAU. #aworldofopportunitypic.twitter.com/GWEUmjhrKl

— Yulong Investments (@YulongInvest) February 24, 2024

Storm Boy is likely to have two runs into the Group 1 Golden Rose while Espionage is also kept to sprints with The Everest the main target.

Meanwhile, Asian Daze, a promising English three-year-old filly purchased by Bott and Gai Waterhouse at the Goff’s Sale last month, won at Newmarket over the weekend and will soon go into quarantine before travelling to Sydney.

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Originally published as Godolphin guns Zardozi, Pericles and Tom Kitten back at the trials as spring carnival looms