Kerrin McEvoy tipping class and versatility to hold the key as Pericles tackles the $2 million Five Diamonds

Star jockey Kerrin McEvoy is hoping his first race ride on Godolphin gun Pericles is a feature race win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Star jockey Kerrin McEvoy is trusting the versatility and class of Godolphin gun Pericles to rise to the fore in Saturday’s Listed $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens.

McEvoy is set to pilot the James Cummings-trained galloper for the first time in a race and is amazingly the 14th different rider to partner Pericles in just his 24 start career.

He joins the likes of James McDonald, Zac Purton, William Buick, High Bowman and Blake Shinn among a litany of big name jockeys to pilot Pericles during a career that has seen the son of Street Boss consistently compete at the top level.

It’s been no different this preparation where Pericles has raced in the top grade in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Kerrin McEvoy will partner two stakes chances for Godolphin. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

The five-year-old will find Saturday’s task easier than his last start assignment where he was ninth in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) but McEvoy can navigate a path from an awkward Five Diamonds draw.

“Pericles has been racing at a high level throughout the spring and you just look at the horses that are beating him home, they are top notch horses,” McEvoy said.

“I think he will enjoy this race on Saturday, providing we can just get an energy efficient run through the first part of the race.

“But he is a little bit versatile. He can go forward or sit back a little bit so it makes it easier to offset the gate for him.

“I see he has got the blinkers off and we know he’s a horse that can run at a pretty high level.”

Pericles has gone close in prominent Sydney feature events in each of his past two preparations, finishing runner-up in last year’s Golden Eagle and the same position in April’s Doncaster Mile.

Pericles returned to winning form earlier this preparation with victory in the So You Think Stakes (1500m).

He will fly the flag for Godolphin in the Five Diamonds where he is a $12 contender in a market that’s headed by luckless Five Diamonds Prelude runner-up Territory Express ($4 favourite).

McEvoy will go in pursuit of a feature double with Godolphin when he pilots Gaeilge in his second race start in the Group 3 $1 million Golden Gift (1100m).

*Baker cooks up new plan for Five Diamonds

Gaeilge (white cap) was second to stablemate Comedy on debut. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

The pair have linked up before at the trials before McEvoy rode his stablemate Comedy first-up with success in the Kirkham Plate.

Gaeilge landed on speed in the debut assignment and was wore down late by the impressive McEvoy-ridden Comedy, which is now having a spell.

“Having ridden Gaeilge at the trials, I knew where he was at and I thought he ran at a good level with improvement off that run,” McEvoy said.

“There is no reason why he can’t step up a little bit further into this run.

“There are some horses in the race that have raced at a good level already but he is a horse on the improve.”

Gaeilge has been a drifter from $11 out to $19 with bookies while the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained North England remains favourite despite drifting from $2.80 to $3.50.

*‘I’ve got an extra two children now’: Willo chases Bella-Brightside double

Comedy on debut wins the Gow-Gates Kirkham Plate with @KPMcEvoy in the saddle as @godolphin trifecta the opener at Royal Randwick. pic.twitter.com/H3BagFJpqu

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) October 26, 2024

Godolphin won the Golden Gift two years ago with Barber.

The racing and breeding powerhouse won’t have a runner in Group 2 $500,000 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) however McEvoy links up with a great chance in Arctic Glamour.

The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained mare hasn’t won a race since McEvoy booted her home to victory in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality on The Everest day a year ago.

But McEvoy is adamant the daughter of Frosted is going better than that suggests.

Arctic Glamour has placed this preparation in stakes race already and raced without luck last start when seventh in The Invitation.

“Arctic Glamour is going well and last start, you’ve just got to put a line through it when caught wide,” McEvoy said.

“She continues to run well without winning so from a softer draw, it will be lovely to see her back in the winner’s stall.

“I think she is going better than her form reads.”

Bookies rate Arctic Glamour as an $8 chance in a market headed by Magic Time ($2.30 favourite).

McEvoy can kick his day off with a winner on Misterkipchoge in the TAB Benchmark 78 Handicap while he also pilots Dance With Hooves (race five), Ringarosa (race 9) and Rapidash (race 10).

Originally published as Kerrin McEvoy tipping class and versatility to hold the key as Pericles tackles the $2 million Five Diamonds