First stakes winner for revamped Godolphin in 2025 Tramway Stakes
Randwick’s Group racing double on Saturday provided highlights for two top trainers, with Bjorn Baker guiding Pericles to an emotional Tramway Stakes win and Chris Waller celebrating Lindermann’s Chelmsford triumph.
Pericles ($9.50) impressed at his first start for Baker, bursting between runners to land the 1400m feature by 1-1/4 lengths from Private Eye ($2.10 fav), with Withyourblessing ($19) back in third. It marked Godolphin’s first Group race success under its new public model, a milestone Baker savoured. “It’s huge to get a result like this for Godolphin,” Baker said. “As a racing purist, I know how much it means to win for a global brand like that. He’s a very good horse, and today he showed it.”
The trainer will now look to the Epsom Handicap (1600m), with jockey Josh Parr lauding Pericles’ finishing burst. “I just needed a run to appear and luckily it did,” Parr said. “He’s a big horse but moved through beautifully and his turn of foot was strong.”
Later, Waller’s stable enjoyed its own feature victory when Lindermann bounced back in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes. Having flopped first-up in the Winx Stakes, he showed his true form on firmer going, narrowly defeating Sir Delius and Vauban. “He’s right up there as one of our stable favourites,” Waller said. “On a good track he’s much better, and he’ll hold his form now. There are plenty of nice options for him coming up.”
The 7 Stakes is a likely next stop, with the Craven Plate or Hill Stakes also under consideration.
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