Cliff Brown’s promising galloper Sepals is aiming to carve out a slice of Caulfield history when he lines up in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) this Saturday.
The four-year-old gelding will be looking to add another elite-level success to his name after an impressive win in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on September 20. Only two horses have completed the coveted double in the past two decades — Trust In A Gust in 2014 and Barely A Moment back in 2005.
Following his gutsy victory, Brown gave Sepals a few easy days to recover and was delighted with how quickly the gelding bounced back to full health.
Sepals had to overcome adversity in the Sir Rupert Clarke, recovering from a stumble at the start before being urged forward by jockey Craig Williams to settle outside the leader and fight hard to the line.
This weekend, regular partner Ethan Brown takes over the reins once again, having guided the gelding to success in his previous 1400m Caulfield outing on August 30.
“He knew he’d had a run for a few days after the Sir Rupert Clarke, and he went to the paddock for four days,” Brown said.
“He’s always been a good doer, but it was a late night that night and by the time we finished with him it was 8.15 when we left the stable.
“He left a dipper of feed which he never does, and he knew he had had a pretty solid run.”
After a short spell, Sepals returned to the Mornington base and completed a strong gallop on the course proper alongside stablemates, impressing Brown with how well he had recovered from his Caulfield effort.
Brown confirmed the gelding will stay home at Mornington to finish his preparations rather than galloping at Caulfield during the week.
“It’s very interesting that we tend to do it for big races,” Brown said.
“Yet horses will train at Randwick or Flemington and go to Caulfield for their first start, having never been there and still win. I suppose at the end of the day it’s a day out for the older horses.”
The only question left for Brown is whether Sepals will handle the rise to 1600 metres. His only previous attempt at the trip came when he ran fourth in the Australian Guineas behind Feroce.
“He needs to run the mile on Saturday, which may be a query,” Brown said.
“His one try at the mile was in the Australian Guineas and there were some good runs behind him in the Sir Rupert Clarke, like Feroce, and they will be suited at the mile in the Toorak.”
Sepals is also among entries for the lucrative Golden Eagle, and Brown hasn’t ruled out heading that way depending on Saturday’s result.
“He doesn’t have to win on Saturday, he just needs to run well, and maybe the 1500 metres might suit him better,” he said. “Running for $10 million would also be hard to pass up.”
Fans keen to back Sepals in the Toorak Handicap or explore the latest odds for the spring features can compare leading bookmakers via Australia’s top betting sites.
