Racing
Pericles wins Group 1 Henley Homes Futurity Stakes: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 1 Henley Homes Futurity Stakes won by Pericles at Caulfield on Saturday.
Race Result:1st: Pericles (B Baker/C Williams) - $5.502nd: Buckaroo (C Waller/J McNeil) - $31
3rd: Treasurethe Moment (M Laurie/D Lane) - $1.90 fav
Winning Time: 1:22.61 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 3/4L x Nose
uturity Stakes | Pericles
At long last — at start No.16, Pericles is a Group 1 winner! The 6YO gelding mows down the heavy favourite to claim G1 glory for @CWilliamsJockey and @BBakerRacing
Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/KU75E09z5M
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 21, 2026
Winning Trainer: Bjorn Baker (Godolphin's Andy Makiv speaking)
Finally a Group 1 winner: "Amazingly satisfying. He's been a fabulous horse. He's a home-bred off Northwood Park, the stud here in Victoria by our fantastic stallion Street Boss. So for him to achieve Group One glory is wonderful for so many people and he's just been a great horse, near on $7 million prize money, so fabulous."
Transition from Cummings: "I had a feeling he'd suit Bjorn. I just loved what Bjorn had done with that Vancouver horse (Overpass) he's got and travelled around. In fairness, I thought he might be a horse for WA for Bjorn to take because he's had a great record over there in those races and since Bjorn's had him, he said, 'don't worry about WA, worry about Melbourne and Sydney.'
"It's been a great journey and really pleased for all the team and pleased for Bjorn. It's great."
All-Star Mile vs Tom Kitten: "I suspect they'll be running in the same race at Flemington, so they'll both get their chance. May the best horse win or hopefully one of them wins— so obviously it'll be a tough race and great to see this horse join the group one company and he can go to that race and take on Tom Kitten, it'll be great."
Winning Jockey: Craig Williams
Third Futurity in a row: "Well coming into the autumn when Mr Brightside's not going to be here, I said, I need a replacement. Not easy to fill those shoes, so I got in touch with Bjorn Baker."
"I didn't think Tom Kitten was an option at the time either, so very grateful for the ownership group, Godolphin, Andy Makiv, Jason, all their team that they do all this work.
"But Bjorn Baker's done an amazing job with this horse. I remember Blake riding him maybe a couple of seasons ago, and I think he's a group one horse and he was just below them.
"It looks like he's gone to another level in the spring. To win a group one, well done to all the team behind them and their patience.
"It was good. I got to go up and sit on him in a couple of jump outs up there. But he's very much a pleasure to ride."
Great type: "He's got me sitting on his back so obviously they all shine with that comparison, but he just oozes class, by his looks and the breeding of him. They've been doing this for a long time, they're very successful at it. It's great to win in the Royal Blue Colours of Sheikh Mohammed."
Beaten Jockeys:
Jye McNeil (Buckaroo): "Buckaroo went fantastic, similar to last preparation. There's no reason why he can't be back as good as ever this campaign.
Jamie Melham (Evaporate): "He was really good. He kept coming to the line. He will tighten up off that fitness wise. He's a lot easier to deal with this prep so I think he's in for the best prep of his life."
Luke Currie (Veight): "He didn't show the speed that he probably has been and he was caught wide, but he was beaten a long way out."
William Pike (Watch Me Rock): "I thought it was pretty average for him. I do think I rode him too close, but I was a little disappointed he did not hold his own in the run to the line."
Billy Egan (Feroce): "He was a little flat-footed when they sprinted. He was nice through the line and after that nice first-up run when he was fresh, he's ready to step out to a bit further now."
Damian Lane (Treasurethe Moment): "Disappointing to be beaten obviously. I think she still ran a creditable race. I assumed control because that was the position I was left in. I rode her like the best horse in the race and perhaps too much of her through the middle stages and she shortened up late. She's run pretty good."
Ethan Brown (Leica Lucy): "Great return. She's well and truly on track for a staying prep. She will be suited to a bigger track but it was well and truly a pass mark today."
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