Cliff Brown’s Group 1 hero Sepals is lined up for a Queensland foray.

The gelding dominated the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last spring, the trainer’s first elite-level win back from Singapore in 2021.

June 13’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm is the key target, but Brown will stop if the four-year-old falters.

The yard gains another Stradbroke hope via Von Hauke taking out Bendigo’s Listed Golden Mile (1600m) on Saturday.

After a fourth in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington first-up, Sepals went to Sydney backed heavily for the Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill March 28.

Performance dipped there, Brown explaining a tough weight and track deterioration from Sydney Carnival effects, with the gelding unwell upon Melbourne return.

Instead of the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick April 18, a quick paddock respite was chosen.

“He had 10 days off and he’s come back in tremendous order,” Brown said.

“He just wasn’t himself, but he seems right now.

“I don’t think he appreciated the track up in Sydney, but just afterwards when we got him home, he just wasn’t himself.

“We know him intimately and he wasn’t right.

“I gave him a jump-out, which was OK, without being great, but then he had the 10 days off and I thought, if he’s OK, we’ll be able to continue on and if he’s not, we’ll go to the paddock.

“At this point he seems good and if he’s right, we’ll head up to Queensland, and he can have a run at the end of the month with the aim of hopefully getting him to the Stradbroke.”

Head to betting sites for competitive odds in the Stradbroke Handicap.