Godolphin have two remaining chances in this afternoon’s Group 1 $700,000 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) following the early scratching of imported seven-year-old Home Of The Brave.

Trainer James Cummings made the call on Friday afternoon to withdraw last year’s Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes winner from the Kingsford Smith Cup 2019 field due to an elevated temperature.

The Starspangledbanner seven-year-old was also drawn wide in gate 17 and leaves hoop Tommy Berry without a ride in today’s Group 1 event that will now take place with 17 runners.

The Group 1 $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in a fortnight’s time remains the hopeful Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival target for Home Of The Brave according to Cummings who spoke to the media yesterday.

“We’ll nominate him for the [Group 2] Moreton Cup [over 1200m at Doomben on June 1] and we’ll decide next if he runs there or goes straight to the Stradbroke,” he said.

“He could even go straight to the paddock because a hiccup is far from ideal.”

Cummings and Godolphin still saddle-up the now $6 top elect in Kingsford Smith Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au with the rails-drawn Trekking tipped to make it three wins on the trot.

The four-year-old son of Street Cry won Randwick’s Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) two back before a stakes win at Scone over 1300m on May 11 and is tracking well to continue his top season form this afternoon.

The other Godolphin galloper in the mix is gun Lonhro colt Encryption to be ridden by two-time Melbourne Cup winning hoop Corey Brown from gate four.

Encryption sits at current Kingsford Smith Cup odds of $16, the Group 1 runner-up last seen placing 2.2 lengths back fourth behind Classique Legend in the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in mid-April.

“He’s been burning along, showing his appreciation for the patient approach we’ve taken with him since his last run,” Cummings told AAP.

“We’ve been waiting for this race. He’s had a month between runs, he’s trained well and had a couple of nice pipe-openers at the trials.

“He’s ready for the step up to 1,300 metres and he’s ready to run well.”

Following Trekking in the Kingsford Smith Cup odds this morning is the big market mover Victorem backed right in from $11 to $7.

The Jenny Graham-trained I Am Invincible four-year-old travels to Brisbane from Port Macquarie for the big event after enjoying a Group 3 placing and Listed victory at Doomben over the summer.

A winner of six of his 13 career starts to date Victorem, who made up late ground when narrowly beaten at Scone last time out, jumps from barrier five with Ben Looker aboard and is a proven second-up performer.

The next best in betting are then Tony Pike’s surprise Doomben 10,000 champ The Bostonian ($7.50) and smart mare I Am Excited ($7.50) drawn in barriers 11 and 9 respectively.

For all the latest Kingsford Smith Cup betting odds and offers plus a detailed race form guide on the Group 1 at Eagle Farm head to Ladbrokes.com.au.