BRUDENELL’S GROUP 2 MISSILE ASSIGNMENT

PROLIFIC winner Brudenell at Royal Randwick tomorrow gets his chance to add a Group victory to his already impressive record.

The winner of two Listed races – both in Melbourne at Caulfield last year and The Valley earlier this year – amongst his 10 victories, Brudenell lines up in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at set weights plus penalties.

Dylan Gibbons, who has ridden the now six-year-old to five of those wins, combines with him again.

The absence of pre-post favorite Private Eye, who trialled instead at his home track at Warwick Farm this morning, has indeed boosted the gelding’s prospects.

“Brudenell is going as well as he ever has,” trainer Kris Lees’ stable spokesman Danny Greer said this morning.

“Whilst he hasn’t raced since an excellent second to In Flight (a subsequent Melbourne Group 3 winner) in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on June 7, he trialled really well at Gosford on July 23.

“Dylan rode him and he rounded up his rivals on the turn and ran away to win the trial easily (runner-up Diamond Diesel subsequently ran second at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday).

“Brudenell races well at Randwick (two wins and two placings from six starts).”

Whilst Brudenell is a definite runner, the stable is on weather watch with its three other acceptors Little Beginnings, Adelaide River and Age Of Sail as more rain is forecast for Sydney.

Randwick was rated a “Heavy 8” this morning, with the rail in the TRUE position.

Little Beginnings (apprentice Ben Osmond) is an acceptor for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m), and Adelaide River (James McDonald) and Age Of Sail (Jay Ford) are both in the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m).

“All three horses are scheduled to resume,” Greer said.

“Sydney’s weather over the next 24 hours will determine what Kris decides to do with them.

“Little Beginnings has had two nice trials, but there are options for him next week if he doesn’t run tomorrow.

“Adelaide River has been gelded and will race in a tongue tie, which he wore in both his latest trials and also in his work.

“He is going well and James McDonald was happy with how he felt in his Gosford trial win on July 23.

“Age Of Sail has won first-up but in weaker class, and will take improvement from this race if he does line up.”

Lees has decided to put blinkers on Bengal Boy (Andrew Mallyon), his sole Eagle Farm runner in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m).

“Bengal Boy is in good form,” Greer said. “If he can jump well and get into a good position from his good draw, he will be very competitive.”

The stable has several acceptors at Newcastle tomorrow, where the rail is 4m out and a “Heavy 10” rating was posted this morning.

“Thundering Soul (Andrew Gibbons) looks to be our best chance in the Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m),” Greer said.

“He ran well on resumption at Gosford in an open Benchmark 64 Handicap over 1100m, and is back against provincial only horses.”

Story John Curtis, August 8, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos