Home proves Cummings’ Brave call in Aurie’s Star
Earlier this week, James Cummings declared Home Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner) as the best straight track horse he has in training and he might just be right, as the nine-year-old gelding wound back the clock to take out the Aurie’s Star Handicap (Gr 3, 1200m) yesterday.
Ridden by Damien Oliver, Home Of The Brave was at the front of the pack on the grandstand side of the track and hit his straps with 50 metres to go, running down Great Again (Viscount) to score by three-quarters of a length with Game Keeper (Fastnet Rock) a further half a length away in third.
“He’s nine now so obviously he’s not getting any better but he’s holding his form,” Oliver told Racing.com.
“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.”
It was a record fifth win in the race for Oliver, and his fourth in the last seven years. He last took out the race in 2018 aboard Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible) where Home Of The Brave was the runner-up.
Godolphin’s Melbourne stable foreman Sean Keogh said Oliver’s quick thinking at the start of the 1200-metre race secured the win, as he had to overcome adversity after receiving a bump from Great Again, who was drawn to his outside.
“After that, he was able to get him to the outside where he got clear galloping room. He was very tough late, super win,” Keogh said.
Purchased at the 2013 Arqana August Yearling Sale in Deauville by agent Justin Bahen, under his then Flemington Bloodstock banner, for €80,000 on behalf of clients including prominent Victorian owner-breeder David Moodie, Home Of The Brave (9 g Starspangledbanner – Blissful Beat by Beat Hollow) was a five-time stakes winner in Europe before being sent to Australia by Godolphin who acquired the sprinter in 2016.
He has won eight races in total from 34 starts with a further 11 placings for prize-money earnings of $1,099,474.
By Rosemont Stud’s reverse shuttler Starspangledbanner (Choisir), who will stand for $19,800 (inc GST) this year, Home Of The Brave is the best-performed of three winners out of the unraced Blissful Beat who is a half-sister to France Group 3 winner Rashbag (Reprimand) and UK four-time stakes winner Suggestive (Reprimand),
Starspangledbanner is the sire of 14 stakes winners headed by The Wow Signal and fellow Group 1 winner Millisle.