FORMER ENGLISH SPRINTER FIRMS FOR DEBUT
TRAINER James Cummings believes his imported English sprinter Home Of The Brave has the necessary speed to be in the finish at his Australian debut in the Aurie’s Star Stakes at Flemington tomorrow.
The son of former Australian sprinter Starspangledbanner was a Group 3 winner in England last year.
He has had two trials in the lead-up to his Australian debut and has been backed from $4.80 into $3.60 favourite to win tomorrow.
“While he’s had a solid preliminary foundation for this, he will no doubt show improvement through the run as he gets more accustomed to how races unfold here,” Cummings said.
Formerly trained by Hugo Palmer in England, Home Of The Brave has won six of his 18 starts including five at stakes level before being sent by Godolphin to Australia.
Home Of The Brave scooted along to easily win his first trial over 904m at Rosehill early last month before hitting the line under little pressure for a close second to Siege Of Quebec over 900m at Randwick on July 30.
The field was reduced from 10 to nine yesterday after trainer Udyta Clarke was forced to scratch Rich Charm because of a cut to the sprinter’s hind leg which required antibiotics.
The 2017 German 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Dream, trained by Lindsay Park’s David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, has firmed to $4.40 for his second Australian start and first this preparation.