Godolphin owned Home of the Brave has won the $200,000 Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill, running a blistering 1:19:34 against two very talented sprinters in D’argento and The Everest (1200m) favourite, Trapeze Artist.
Home of the Brave led from barrier to box in Theo Marks Stakes on Saturday.
After leading by three-lengths midway through the race, the UK import found an extra kick with D’argento barreling down the outside, resembling the characteristics of a well-prepared sprinter ahead of the world’s richest turf race.
“He’s all about go this fella, majority of the race I’m just trying to keep him happy without trying to fight him too much but without letting him run too hard” jockey Glyn Schofield told Sky Racing after the race.
Things weren’t quite so clear cut for Tye Angland and Trapeze Artist. The heavy track always posed a problem for the talented sprinter, and after finding perhaps the worst part of the turf three-wide down the straight, the four-year old struggled to find an extra gear.
Home of the Brave, on the other hand, was pushed from the very get-go, and looked a little over-raced early. After Trapeze Artist drifted from $2.80 all the way out to $5.00, the $5.50 about Home of the Brave proved great value for punters.
With Godolphin abandoning Kementari’s Everest plans, it looks likely Home of the Brave has now secured the spare spot. The talented six-year old has firmed from a whopping $51 all the way into $17 ahead of October’s race, setting up a blockbuster round two against Trapeze Artist, as well as Nature Strip and Redzel.
“His foots always on the accelerator, he wants to go” Schofield said after Saturday’s race.
Full Everest odds with Ladbrokes can be seen below.
