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Godolphin trio ready to fire in Caulfield G1

Mike Hedge

A mix of proven European class and local promise goes on display when Home Of The Brave, Jungle Cat and Osborne Bulls take on Saturday’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.

The three Godolphin runners, each of them a last-start winner, add both depth and intrigue to a race that brings together an in-form line-up.

Home Of The Brave (Mark Zahra) is one member of the trio with very strong credentials.

A winner of five races in England, he has already proven himself in Australia, winning the G2 Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill on 8 September after a first-up second at Flemington two weeks earlier.

His trainer James Cummings is confident that the step up from 1,200m to the 1,400m of Saturday’s race will be a perfect fit for the horse.

“He was a bold front-running winner last time and he was out in front at his previous start at Flemington,” Cummings said.

“But he doesn’t need to race like that.”

“I don’t see any issue with the seven furlongs here. He’s won over the trip on tough courses in England.”

Home Of The Brave beat a field at Rosehill that included the multiple G1 winner Trapeze Artist and appears suited by the handicap conditions on Saturday.

“He took a few big scalps in the Theo Marks, so he deserves the chance to perform at Group 1 level.”

Cummings will also saddle Osborne Bulls (Craig Williams), a horse who ranks as one of Australia’s more promising sprinters.

After making a late start to his career, Osborne Bulls has won eight of his 11 starts, the most recent a brilliant win in Listed company over 1,200m at Caulfield.

The gelding won’t have raced for a month when he lines up on Saturday, but he has pleased Cummings in his work.

“Osborne Bulls is in great form and he’ll be fit enough even though he hasn’t run for a few weeks.”

“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.”

Jungle Cat (James Doyle) is a winner of his past three on turf at Meydan and comes to Saturday’s race off a victory in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on 31 March.

Appleby reports the horse has travelled and acclimatised well. 

“He brings a good level of form to the race. Stepping up to seven furlongs should be perfect for him,” Appleby said.

“We’ve had this race in mind for him for some time, and he’s well-prepared for it,”

As well as presenting an in-form runner on Saturday, Appleby comes to Melbourne in great form himself having won three Stakes races, including two G1s, in three countries last Sunday.