Godolphin chase The Everest’s $13m purse Down Under

Dubai-owned stable has already been enjoying a memorable season in Australia

Team Godolphin, already enjoying an epic season in Australia, will go in search of one of flat racing’s biggest prizes when Home Of The Brave takes his place in the second running of The Everest, a A$13 million (Dh47.7 million) contest over six furlongs.

A maximum field of 12 runners, whose connections have paid an entry fee of $600,000 apiece, will start in the Randwick Racecourse’s showpiece race on Saturday.

Godolphin secured a slot for Home Of The Brave in The Everest, whose inaugural run was won by the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Redzel last October, after negotiations with the Australian Turf Club.

Godolphin’s Australian handler, James Cummings was delighted with the opportunity for Home Of The Brave to be part of a race that has instantly captured the imagination of the world.

“The great thing about a race like the Everest is that it captures a wider audience other than just racing enthusiasts,” Cummings said on the Godolphin website.

Home Of The Brave has raced three times in Australia including when he won the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes over 1,300m at Rosehill two starts back.

Suitable conditions

On his most recent outing, he finished fourth behind another Godolphin runner, the Charlie Appleby-trained Jungle Cat, in the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield last month.

“We took him to Melbourne in search of a Group 1 at 1,400m and now we have a new opportunity in this race,” Cummings said.

“There is also the threat of some rain, so along with coming back to 1,200m with some cut in the ground he would have conditions to suit.

“It would be a feather in the cap of the stable for a horse like him to perform well in a race like this.”

Home Of The Brave will be ridden by leading Australian jockey Tommy Berry.

Among the field of 12 for Saturday’s weight for age race are defending champion Redzel, who is the ante-post favourite and Ireland’s US Navy Flag.

The winner of The Everest will collect $5.8 million while the runner up will also take home over $1 million.

Rex Features Home Of The Brave, ridden by James Doyle, wins the European Free Handicap at Newmarket earlier this year. The Godolphin horse aims to scale The Everest in Saturday’s showpiece.