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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Dylan Gibbons says it’d be a real feather in the cap of consistent sprinter Brudenell if he can add a Group 2 to his record at Randwick on Saturday – and he’s rapt to be the one on board to attempt it.

Dylan Gibbons with trainer Kris Lees after a win on Brudenell. (Pic: Steve Hart)

When the Kris Lees-trained gelding had his first barrier trial back in January 2022 it was Gibbons who partnered him, the same in his debut win six months later, and he’s had more success on Brudenell than any other horse.

Gibbons has a 50 per cent strike rate on the six-year-old from 10 rides and he’s keen to improve on that record in the Group 2 $300,000 Darley Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

“I’ve been lucky to win on a couple of horses four times but I’ve won on him five times,’’ Gibbons said.

“I won his maiden on him at Port Macquarie and we went through the grades together pretty much.

“He’s not changed. Early days we thought he went well, he went to Port Macquarie as a late two-year-old and took on the older horses and barely got out of first gear.

“Every time we thought he’s reached his mark he’s managed to keep going up a level.

“Kris has done a remarkable job with him to win as many races as he has and collect the prizemoney he has.”

First or second in the Missile would see the gelding pass the $1 million in prizemoney mark.

Brudenell, $5.50 with TAB on Friday, has strung three Listed placings together this preparation though hasn’t raced since he was nabbed on the line by In Flight in the Bob Charley AO two months ago.

That’s a point Lees stressed as insignificant given he’s not been out of work and has been scratched from a couple of planned races in the interim.

“It looks like he’s first-up by the form guide but he hasn’t been out of work,’’ Lees said on SEN.

“We’ve scratched him for various reasons, he’s had a tickover trial, so he’s going in with a bit of a fitness edge on the established horses that are resuming.

“He’s been a real stable favourite. He’s pretty uncomplicated and puts himself in the right spot.”

Gibbons said Brudenell felt great in his trial win at Gosford on July 23 and with the likes of Private Eye and Encap coming out due to the heavy ground he feels it’s all falling into place.

And it's the heavy ground that could also be an asset, Gibbons said the fact Brudenell isn't a big, heavy, horse will play in his favour as he doesn't tend to get deep into the ground.

“It’s an opportunity for him to win a Group 2 race which they probably never dreamed of with him,’’ he said.

“His trial the other day was the best I’ve felt and I think it’s the best he’s ever gone so the race has come around at the right time.

Brudenell wins a Gosford trial on July 23

“He jumps, he travels on speed, there’s not much of him but he’s a little bulldog and you know you’re going to get 110 per cent out of him every time.

“I’m always confident with him, I couldn’t tell you the last time he ran a bad race.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting