Sepals chasing 2025 CS Hayes Stakes and Australian Guineas double at Flemington for trainer Cliff Brown

Mornington trainer Cliff Brown keeps raising the bar but Sepals could measure up yet again in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington.

The phrase says otherwise but sometimes nice guys finish first.

Mornington trainer Cliff Brown says his Australian Guineas contender Sepals is one of those nice guys, proving himself a gentleman to work with in his first racing preparation.

“He’s the nicest, kindest, quietest horse you could ever come across and there’s not a bad bone in his body,” Brown said.

“He just does his work and he’s just really happy with life.”

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Being a nice guy hasn’t stopped Sepals winning three of his first four starts with his only defeat coming on debut at Yarra Valley in December last year.

The son of British stallion Calyx subsequently won his next three starts, jumping from maiden grade to Benchmark 64 level ahead of a steep class rise to Group 3 company in his last-start win in the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington.

Brown said Sepals simply continued to stand up to every challenge thrown his way but would have one more assignment in Saturday’s Group 1 contest.

“At the end of the day, he’s had four starts, won three and he was unlucky the first time,” Brown said.

“The bar keeps getting raised and he keeps meeting it.

“Hopefully he can keep doing it.”

Sepals unstoppable in the C S Hayes Stakes 🔥

Next stop, the Howden Guineas 👏

🎥 @7horseracingpic.twitter.com/YJ0556PKEF

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) February 15, 2025

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Sepals was a dominant winner of the CS Hayes Stakes, scoring by more than three lengths over the well-performed duo Ndola and Feroce in the $200,000 event.

Brown was concerned the circumstances of the CS Hayes Stakes, which was run on soft ground, might have favoured Sepals.

“He’s a nice horse but everything was perfect for him the other day,” Brown said.

“Maybe he liked the track better and he was fitter than the others.

“He’s got to improve.”

Sepals has progressed from a Sale maiden win to become a Group 1 contender in Saturday’s Australian Guineas at Flemington. Picture: Racing Photos

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Irrespective of Sepals’ performance in the Australian Guineas, Brown said the three-year-old had already delivered him a pleasant surprise in his maiden campaign.

However, with Sepals was four starts and three jumpouts into his first campaign, it could mean the gelding could show signs of coming to the end of his preparation.

“He was always a nice horse and showed ability. But did I think he could get to this point? No, I didn’t,” Brown said.

“I thought he was definitely Saturday city grade and from there it would be a bonus

“This is all in his first preparation too so eventually there will come a time where he’s had enough so we’ve got to be a bit wary of that.”

Top jockey Blake Shinn, who rode Sepals to win the CS Hayes Stakes, will again be aboard in the Australian Guineas.