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Pericles Delivers Historic Tramway Stakes Win for Bjorn Baker and Godolphin
The 2025 Epsom Handicap price on Pericles to win the Randwick mile classic on October 4 has been slashed following the Godolphin galloper’s upset win the Group 2 $300,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m) over the weekend for his new trainer Bjorn Baker.
In a performance that blended class, timing, and history, Pericles stormed home to win the 2025 Tramway Stakes, marking a landmark moment for trainer Baker and global racing powerhouse Godolphin.
The six-year-old gelding not only claimed his second Tramway Stakes title having won the race back in 2023 but he also became the first horse to deliver Godolphin a stakes win under its new public training model.
Transferred from James Cummings to Baker earlier this year, Pericles arrived at Warwick Farm in top order and was primed for a first-up strike.
Baker, a self-described racing purist, had mapped out a plan to target the Tramway early, confident in the gelding’s fitness and trackwork. Two sharp trials confirmed his readiness, and Baker declared the horse “a ready-made Group performer” with over $5 million in earnings.
Drawn wide out in gate 12, Pericles settled in fourth under Josh Parr, who executed a patient ride behind the speed.
As the field turned for home, Parr found a gap at the 300m mark and let the son of Street Boss down powerfully.
Pericles ($9.50) surged past race favourite Private Eye to win by 1¼ lengths, with With Your Blessing finishing a further half-length back in third.
Parr praised the gelding’s composure and acceleration, saying, “He’s such a big horse, but he was able to manoeuvre through comfortably and showed a really good turn of foot.”
For Baker, it was “undoubtedly one of the highs” of his career, made even more special with his father, legendary trainer Murray Baker, in attendance.
Pericles, now a three-time Group 2 winner, will next target the Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m), where he’ll aim to extend his dominance over the mile.
Happy Clapper (2017) was the latest galloper to win the Tramway Stakes – Epsom Handicap double.
The price on Pericles to be the next through leading bookmaker Ladbrokes.com.au has been slashed from $26 into $11 with the Epsom Handicap nominations closing on Tuesday.
Tramway Stakes 2025 Results
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1st
7. Pericles (12)
J: Josh Parr 57kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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2nd
5. Private Eye (14)
J: Nash Rawiller 57.5kg
T: Joseph Pride |
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3rd
14. With Your Blessing (11)
J: Alysha Collett 55kg
T: John P Thompson |
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4th
11. Osipenko (1)
J: Tim Clark 55kg
T: Chris Waller |
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5th
1. Militarize (7)
J: James McDonald 58kg
T: Chris Waller |
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6th
15. Swiftfalcon (6)
J: Tyler Schiller 55kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
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7th
2. Linebacker (16)
J: Zac Lloyd 58kg
T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton |
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8th
4. Willydoit (15)
J: Tommy Berry 58kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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9th
16. War Eternal (5)
J: Dylan Gibbons 55kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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10th
13. Waterford (13)
J: Jason Collett 55kg
T: Chris Waller |
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11th
6. Kovalica (10)
J: Adam Hyeronimus 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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12th
17. Depth Of Character (4)
J: Chad Schofield 57kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
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13th
3. Port Lockroy (8)
J: Ethan Brown 58kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
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14th
10. Al Mubhir (2)
J: Ashley Morgan 55kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
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15th
9. Coleman (9)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 56kg
T: Chris Waller |
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16th
12. Territory Express (3)
J: Jean Van Overmeire 55kg
T: Paul Niceforo |
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