Cliff Brown’s in-form galloper Sepals will attempt to etch his name into history when he lines up in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The four-year-old claimed the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) last month and will now try to become the first horse since Trust In A Gust in 2014 to complete the Group 1 double.
After a few quiet days in the paddock, Sepals has bounced back strongly following his tough Sir Rupert Clarke win, where he recovered from a poor start before being driven forward to sit outside the leader.
“He knew he’d had a run for a few days after the Sir Rupert Clarke,” Brown said. “He left a dipper of feed which he never does, and he knew he had had a pretty solid run.”
Ethan Brown reunites with the gelding, who will stay at Mornington for his final preparations.
Brown concedes the mile trip is a small query, noting Sepals’ only attempt was in the Australian Guineas.
“He doesn’t have to win on Saturday, he just needs to run well,” Brown said. “Running for $10 million would also be hard to pass up” — a nod to the Golden Eagle later this spring.