Cummings is keen to raise the bar with Pericles

Zac Lloyd has celebrated a Group race double at Randwick, adding the Tramway Stakes aboard Godolphin’s Pericles to his Furious Stakes win on the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Tiz Invincible.

The champion Sydney apprentice was riding at his first Saturday meeting since returning from a three-week suspension, which stemmed from two separate careless riding charges incurred last month.

But he wasted no time making his mark, getting the job done as a late replacement for James McDonald aboard Tiz Invincible, before leading throughout on Pericles for boss James Cummings.

“That was an enormous win because he’s done that with a lot of ease, very classy,” Lloyd said.

“I can’t thank the team enough for the opportunities, I’m just happy enough to get the job done. It’s very special.”

Perciles ($4.40) had a length to spare over Skyman ($101) with Hope In Your Heart ($6.50) an eye-catching third, another three-quarters of a length away.

The Godolphin four-year-old is now unbeaten in two runs from a spell and Cummings is keen to raise the bar and either run him in the 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in two weeks, or go directly to the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) on September 30.

“Pericles has just come back in faultless fashion hasn’t he? Two out of two this prep and he’s enjoying himself,” Cummings said.

“The time-honoured Channel 7 Stakes in two weeks looks pretty good. It’s sitting there at weight-for-age over a mile.

“If I choose to miss it, then you go straight to the Epsom, but by winning the weight-for-age in two weeks, the weights will have already been out and he would be exempt from a penalty.”

Olentia started a $2.60 favourite and finished fifth in what jockey Kerrin McEvoy said was a tough effort.

“We weren’t able to get any cover just in behind the speed,” McEvoy said.

“She was a credible run all the way to the line.”