THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN: BROWNE SHORT-CHANGED IN AWARD VOTE

By Graham Potter | Sunday, September 14, 2014

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily

The outcome of any particular racing award, like any race that is run, is over once the judge’s decision has been announced and the ‘all clear’ posted … but there are times when official judges do their own capability rating and reputation no good at all by making a call that leaves many other experienced judges nonplussed by the outcome.

When such a situation occurs it is no fault of the ultimate winner. In fact, in the case of the Queensland Jockey Of The Year award, the winner Tim Bell had indeed done more than enough to warrant his inclusion on the short list of contenders.

I have the upmost respect for Bell’s achievement in riding his first Group 1 winner and coming from behind to win the Brisbane Metropolitan Jockey’s Premiership … but, I suggest, any random survey amongst even the most critical and hard core punters would have the Sunshine Coast based Damian Browne on top of that leader-board.

Browne would be good for that vote on pure riding ability alone. He is a true horseman, an accolade only a few jockeys can claim, but awards often are largely statistics driven … so let’s have a look at Browne’s record for the past season.

Firstly, Browne finished joint third on the table of Group I-winning jockeys for the season, saluting four times. Only Nash Rawiller and Hugh Bowman rode more Group 1 winners. To be counted so high at this elite level speaks volumes for Browne’s level of riding excellence.

Secondly, with the exception of Earthquake’s win in the Blue Diamond Stakes, Browne’s Group 1 wins all came aboard the Robert Heathcote trained Buffering. Browne might as well have been carrying Queensland colours on his chest as he and Buffering raided south and west in an all-conquering thirty day Group 1 blitz to grab glory for themselves and for their state.

Buffering was duly suitably rewarded with his third successive Queensland Horse Of The Year title for his efforts. Again, with due deference to Buffering’s rock-hard mix of heart and ability, there can be no doubt that Browne’s contribution, stemming from his knowledge and relationship with Buffering, played an enormous part in those spectacular run of results, as did Heathcote’s pin point preparation of the horse.

So now we have Browne up there in the higher echelon of the season’s Group 1 winners and he has got there in large part by helping to blaze a glory trail that raised the profile of Queensland racing, both already award winning attributes.

I could delve further … strike-rates (Browne has always been huge in this department), professionalism (both on and off the track) … but that’s not necessary.

There is little doubt that Browne was hard-done by when overlooked for the top award and I find it unfortunate that a significant contribution to Queensland Racing, such as Browne’s, failed to find due recognition when the most suitable of opportunities arose to make that happen.

But that is all past tense now. Browne’s already moved on. Three wins from three rides on Wednesday in its own way made its own statement.

A top sportsman will always let his performance do the talking for him, whether others take proper notice of it or not!

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