BROWNIE'S BLOG - A NICE WIN LOOKING BACK AND A GOOD BOOK OF RIDES FOR 10 000 DAY AT DOOMBEN

By Damian Browne | Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Damian Browne is rated right up there with the best jockeys in Australia. After severe injury setbacks which would have ended a lesser man’s career, this eleven-time Group 1 winning jockey has fought back against the odds to establish a solid reputation both as a person ... through the calm, confident and professional manner in which he goes about his business ... and as a rider, where he has built an enviable race record largely courtesy of his exceptional expertise as a horseman. Damian’s column, ‘Brownies Blog’, will appear weekly on Wednesdays ... exclusive to HRO!

It was great to win the Caloundra Cup on Index Linked last Saturday.

People always talk about how good it is for a jockey to win their home town cup ... and it really is.

There are people who come out and support you every week so it is nice to win a big race in front of them. I was pretty excited.

Everything worked out pretty well in the race. We were a bit worried about Index Linked running a mile-and-a-half with 59kg but I was able to get a really good run throughout and I got out at the prefect time.

So I probably couldn’t have scripted the run up any better up until that stage.

Turning for home I thought I was going to win pretty easily, but when I went up to the second horse he really started fighting ... and I thought, don’t tell me he is going to fight back!

As it turned out the second horse was really in for the fight. He didn’t just give up when I got to him, as some horses can do, so it became a real contest over the final 150m.

For me it was just a matter of trying to encourage as much as I could out of my horse at the time ... to get his head in the front at the right time ... and all credit to my horse for being able to produce a winning gallop all the way to the line under the big weight.

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My other two feature race rides on the day were a bit unlucky.

Dances On Stars was unlucky in that he was drawn so wide in the Glasshouse. He’s only got a very short turn of foot. Being wide all of the way took a lot out of his challenge.

I got pushed out a little bit at the 600m. From there I was always working whereas it would have been much better getting a tow up into the race somewhere before having one crack at them.

I’m sure if he had drawn a good barrier and got a better run he would have been right there. In fact I think he would have been hard to beat.

I know that applies to a lot of horses but I do believe the barrier definitely cost him his chance on Saturday. To me he still ran well.

He may pop up during the rest of the carnival. I won’t be surprised to see him jump up and win a race.

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As far as Merion in the Guineas is concerned, I don’t think I can use any excuse to say that I would have beaten Winx. The winner was simply outstanding.

Having said that I certainly felt I should have finished closer.

The first half of the race couldn’t have gone any better. I got into a lovely spot but, from about the 600m, there were just horses stopping all around me.

I got into trouble everywhere I went and lost all momentum, so I wouldn’t disregard the horse on that run alone.

I think he should have finished in the top four but, like I say, I’m certainly not taking anything away from the winner.

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Looking forward to Saturday, 10 000 day, I’ve got a really good book of rides.

I haven’t been on Srikandi since her last start but I’ve been talking to the owner and trainer and apparently she pulled up well after her last ‘disappointing’ effort.

We can put that result down to a lot of things. A lot of people are guessing. A lot of people are hoping, but we’ll only find out the answers to a lot of questions on Saturday.

Hopefully we get to see the real Srikandi in the 10 000 on Saturday.

Platinum Witness from New Zealand is another ride I’m looking forward to (in the Roses). She ran really well in her first-up run on a heavy track in New Zealand so it will be interesting to see how she measures up going towards the Oaks.

I’m on Chris Munce’s horse, Wicked Intent in the Sires. His first-up run was excellent and I’m sure he’ll take a lot of improvement from that.

The question mark with him is probably the 1350m, but if he draws a good barrier and just gets the opportunity to run it out then we’ll know exactly where we are with him going forward. He certainly has got ability.

I’m also looking forward to getting back on Kelly Schweida’s horse Miss Cover Girl in the Fred Best Classic.

She was ridden upside down the other week. Even though she led at Randwick and won, it was a race in which they walked. She is certainly a better horse getting back and I’ll be riding her a lot quieter on Saturday.

She’s got a great turn of foot. If we are able to put it to use I’ll expect her to be not far away at all.

I’ve also got Hopfgarten in the Lord Mayor’s Cup, so I’ve got plenty to look forward to on Saturday.

At this time of the year it is nice to be getting on good horses.

Till next week,

Damian

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