Home Of The Brave among strong Godolphin Criterion team

Godolphin launches a three-strong Godolphin challenge on the G3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket, UK, on Saturday, July 1, with five-year-olds Home Of The Brave, Richard Pankhurst and Jungle Cat running in the seven-furlong contest. 

 

Home Of The Brave (Hugo Palmer/James Doyle) was the game winner of the G3 Jury Stakes over the same trip at Haydock Park in May, 2016, and also scored on his only appearance so far this season when the comfortable victor of a seven-furlong Listed race at Leicester on April 29. 

 

Hugo Palmer remarked: “I’ve been delighted with how Home Of The Brave has trained since missing the opportunity to win back to back Jury Stakes. 

 

“He has a very good record on both Newmarket tracks and, while he has twice finished first on ground softer than good, I’m hoping the ground will continue to dry for him as he has a very low action.”

 

Richard Pankhurst (John Gosden/Robert Tart) beat Home Of The Brave by a length in the G2 Hungerford Stakes, also over seven furlongs, at Newbury in August and makes his first start since coming home sixth over the same distance in the G2 Dubai 100 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket in October. 

 

John Gosden commented: “Richard Pankhurst has been off for a long time so he will benefit for the run and is a better horse on fast ground.”

 

Jungle Cat (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), ninth in the six-furlong G2 Duke Of York Stakes at York on May 17, steps back up in trip having raced over shorter distances for all but one of his outings, including fourth places in the 2016 and 2017 renewals of the six-furlong G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan, Dubai. 

 

Charlie Appleby said: “Jungle Cat has been doing well at home and I have been pleased with the progress he has made since his run at York. 

 

“I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on over seven furlongs as it might open up a few options for him.”

 

The eight intended runners for the Criterion Stakes also include G1 Lockinge Stakes third Breton Rock and G3 winner Thikriyaat.