Godolphin import Home Of The Brave continues to firm in the betting for the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Home Of The Brave, above, has been well backed in the 2018 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
The James Cummings trained Home Of The Brave is the only one the punters want on race eve and the last start all the way Theo Marks Stakes winner has firmed in from $4.20 to be the $3.90 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Home Of The Brave, with Glyn Schofield sporting the famous Godolphin royal blue colours, bounced straight to the front and went further ahead in the straight to record a brilliant front running win in the Group 2 $200,000 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on September 8.
Melbourne based jockey Mark Zahra takes over the reins from Schofield and Cummings is certain the extra 100m of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes won’t be a concern for the seven year old.
“He was a bold front-running winner last time and he was out in front at his previous start at Flemington,” Cummings said.
“I don’t see any issue with the seven furlongs here. He’s won over the trip on tough courses in England.”
“He took a few big scalps in the Theo Marks, so he deserves the chance to perform at Group 1 level.”
The Godolphin owned Home Of The Brave was sent to Cummings after starting his career in England and the seven year old set the pace at his first run on Australian soil before finishing second to Voodoo Lad in the Group 3 $150,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) down the Flemington straight on August 11.
Cummings then took the import back to Sydney when he gave nothing a look in with an all the way win over the Doncaster Mile favourite D’Argento and one of The Everest top contenders Trapeze Artist.
Cummings will also saddle up the popular Osborne Bulls who shares the second line of betting at $6.50 with the Darren Weir trained Land Of Plenty.
Osborne Bulls is stepping up sharply in grade following his first up nose win in the Listed $120,000 Lister Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 18 but Cummings is certain that the five year old will be very competitive with Criag Williams in the saddle again.
“Osborne Bulls is in great form and he’ll be fit enough even though he hasn’t run for a few weeks,” Cummings said.
“He was very fresh in his gallop on the grass at Flemington on Tuesday morning and we’re looking forward to seeing how he shapes up at this level.”
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