BROWNIE'S BLOG: THE MAGIC MILLIONS CLASSIC. I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE ON ANY OTHER HORSE

By Damian Browne | Friday, January 13, 2017

The best way I can describe what I think of my chances on Ours To Keep in the $2 million Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic is to say that I would not want to be on any other horse.

I certainly wouldn’t swop him for anything else in the race. He has done everything asked of him thus far. He has been primed for this race right from the start.

I think a big bonus for him was that he qualified early so Chris (Munce) was able to carefully plot his path. He didn’t have to rush to try and qualify him and have the worries that situation can bring. From an early stage he could fully focus on getting the horse ready for the race rather than on trying to get into it.

That was important.

The barrier draw was another big plus. I believe Cathy (Munce) did a victory salute as if she had already won a prize when she selected barrier four... and I guess she had in a way. There was a lot riding on getting a favourable draw!

I made a call on my choice of ride between the Munce runners prior to the barrier draw, so things turned out well for me in that regard.

Some of Ours To Keep’s opponents cost a lot of money. Chris only paid $26 000 for Our To Keep.

I’ve been lucky enough to get on two relatively cheap (shrewd) buys now ... this one and Buffering, who was in a similar sort of purchase, If Ours To Keep can turn out to be anything like him I will be more than happy.

I’ve had a second (on Pepperano), a third (on Missy Longstocking) and a fourth in the Classic.

It would be nice to add a win to that record.

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I do think that the weather conditions (as forecast for Magic Millions day) could come into play in quite a big way, to be honest.

Fillies tend to get a bit more itchy and scratchy in the heat, especially if they are a bit temperamental.

My colt is a very relaxed customer. That will hold him in good stead and I don’t think the heat will be a problem with him, but I would certainly be worried about some of the ones who tend to get hyped up. They are obviously burning energy before they get to the start.

It’s going to be a stinker and a no holds barred contest so you don’t want to pick up any disadvantage at any stage if you can help it.

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Last year’s Magic Millions day was a peculiar day for me.

I won on Buffering that day and I was on a real high being able to showcase the state’s champion to Queenslanders on home turf, so to speak, and then I also won on Tinto (clinching the Jockey Origin Series for New Zealand).

The Tinto win was one of the most emotional wins I’ve been involved in.

Tinto was Tim Bell’s Group 1 winner and his relationship with the horse ... and the fond memory of just how much Tim meant to us all ... was a huge factor in the emotion of the day with his family there to greet me when I came back to scale.

It is a day I will not forget.

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