In the days leading into the 1200 metre feature, Cummings described the 9-year-old as the best straight-track sprinter in the Godolphin arsenal. He had shown glimpses of that quality in his two previous appearances on Flemington’s straight sprint course, placing in the Aurie’s Star in 2018 and the Listed Straight Six earlier this year.
But Home Of The Brave found his absolute top form on Saturday, giving jockey Damien Oliver his fifth win in the $160,000 feature.
The first 100 metres were far from ideal as Home Of The Brave was bumped and awkwardly placed, but Oliver moved him out into clear air on the outside of the field and he moved forward into third.
Favourite Great Again (Viscount) surged to the lead inside the last 300 metres in what looked like a winning move, but Home Of The Brave got warmed up and finished over the top of him to edge him out by 0.75l.
“That was an unbelievable run from the horse,” said Godolphin’s Victorian stable representative Sean Keogh. “He had to overcome a bit of adversity at the start, being bumped coming out of the barriers.
“That was an unbelievable run from the horse." - Sean Keogh
“But Damien Oliver showed some quick thinking and got him out into clear running room on the outside. The horse was very tough late and it was just a super win.
“It was just a great effort by the team to get him primed for this race. James picked this race out for him, and the team got him ready, sent him down here and got the result.”
It was the first win since September 2018 for Home Of The Brave, who has now won eight of his 34 starts and just under $1.1 million in stakes.
Gallery: Home Of The Brave (Ire) winning the G3 Aurie’s Star H.
“He’s a 9-year-old now, so obviously he’s not getting any better, but he’s holding his form,” Oliver said.
“He was well-placed today, the reduction in the weights, and he’s got good form down the straight and the soft conditions too. Everything went perfect today.
“I just got a bit sandwiched at the start. I think he wasn’t brilliant away, but the horse on the outside jumped in on top of me.
“I got through that and then let him come to the outside of Great Again. It wasn’t too much of a disadvantage.”
Home Of The Brave completed a double on the Flemington card for the Godolphin-Cummings-Oliver combination, who also scored with Fatigues (Hallowed Crown) in the Lexus Plate. The 3-year-old gelding has now won two of his five starts.
Oliver rode a third winner on the program, guiding the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr filly Cafe Rizu (Rubick) to victory in the Grinders Coffee Roasters Plate.
