BROWNIE'S BLOG: SUPERB PERFORMANCES FROM THE CLASSIC AND GUINEAS WINNERS ON A DAY OF DRAMA

By Damian Browne | Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Brownie’s Blog is the weekly blog of multiple Group 1 winning jockey Damian Browne. In this edition Brownie casts his eye back over the two $2 million feature races decided at the Gold Coast on Saturday in which Alligator Blood knocked every obstacle aside that was put in front of him to go on to a famous win in the Guineas and Away Game gave her rivals the type of right royal thrashing which made a complete mockery of her starting price in the 2YO Classic.This Brownie’s Blog – exclusive to HRO.

Magic Millions day was certainly one of the most dramatic race-days I have attended. Thankfully, that had nothing to do with anything serious happening to jockeys or horses in a race, or anything like that, because all of the drama was off the track with the well documented, long delays some participants experienced in getting to the venue because of a truck rollover on the M1.

There really was big drama, primarily focussed on Alligator Blood, the hot favourite for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas who was one of those stuck in traffic, as that situation unfolded.

They did put the races back which allowed Alligator Blood and the others to make it to the track in time … but there was plenty of conjecture, conversation and concern about what was happening … and what was going to happen … during that prolonged build-up to the Guineas.

In then end, you have to take your at off to the stewards … and everybody involved … for the way they managed to get through the day with all of the hurdles they faced. In one sense they were probably lucky to get away with it … that is weather-wise … because come the last race, they were running in near darkness with rain about to come down.

But that doesn’t detract from the fact that the meeting was managed well in very difficult and unforeseen circumstances.

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I know from my own experience, when you are riding hot favourite in a big race all you want to do is get on the horse and get out onto the track.

The more stuffing around there is beforehand, the more it tightens you up and I know Ryan Maloney wouldn’t have wanted any of that … and all credit to him, because when it was time to go he came out and gave Alligator Blood an eleven out of ten ride.

Ryan did everything right, not just in the race itself but behind the barriers … and not only for the horse but for himself as well.

When he took Alligator Blood away from the main body of the field when the first delay occurred behind the barriers and then dismounted when the second delay occurred … while those moves certainly helped Alligator Blood it also helped Ryan to take a breath and sum up the situation.

Then, to put in a ride like that under all of that pressure just shows what a top rider Ryan is!

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Watching the race, I was happy throughout with the way Alligator Blood was going. I know people were searching for chinks in his armour after what he had been through beforehand, but I think everything just fell into place the way they wanted it to.

You know, when you play it in your mind how you think a race is going to be run before a race, it doesn’t go that way very often … but I think this one would have gone very similar to the way Alligator Blood’s connections would have hoped it would be run.

Alligator Blood just put them away with ease in the straight. Some people are now starting to question the quality of the opposition but, as they said when Winx was winning, you can only beat what is put in front of you … and the way he is doing that Alligator Blood is obviously going to be our next Queensland superstar … which is what every racing enthusiast in the state wants to see.

Of course, Alligator Blood has still got to go and win some of those big feature races down south to cement that status but, my opinion, he is a horse that can do it and I know a lot of good judges will have a similar opinion to me.

I don’t think it is a matter of ‘if’. I think it is a matter of ‘when’.

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The Magic Millions 2YO Classic … in which the long priced Away Game absolutely destroyed the field … was a triumph for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable.

It was probably one of the most open Magic Millions two-year-old races there has been for a while and an upset was always on the cards and that’s how Away Game’s win looked to most people.

Apparently, it was not an upset for Ciaron Maher camp though. They had been pushing the claims of Away Game throughout the week. They were pretty confident with the horse and right after the race you would undoubtedly have found a lot of people walking around wishing they had paid more attention to what Ciaron was saying.

Ciaron is a terrific trainer. I was fortunate enough to ride a bit for him before I retired. He is a very good operator and is certainly a good horseman … and, yes, he is most times as relaxed as he looks.

I didn’t know him a lot before I started riding for him but, in everything I had to do with him, he was pretty laid back. I do think he can be serious when he needs to be and laid back when he wants to be.

He is a Peter Moody sort of style of person … a bit of fun, very personable … and we certainly need characters like that in the game. It’s great for the industry.

I think his hair probably adds a little bit to that image. I can only ever dream of having hair like that!

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Racing is a game where criticism is rife … whether valid or not. I have seen a couple of comments, amongst others, criticising a range of things on Saturday from the way the Gold Coast track was playing to what Ciaron Maher’s was wearing on the presentation podium.

I'm not talking about those examples particularly but, talking generally, I think there must be some people who get up in the morning and think … what can I find today that is going to piss me off. To be honest, I find that a very unfortunate way to live a life … but each to their own.

For me, it was a highly enjoyable day … a day like no other with all of the drama. If anything, the drama added to the intensity of the atmosphere which was soaked up the large crowd in attendance at the track.

The bottom line is the Gold Coast Turf Club, Magic Millions and Racing Queensland produced a highly successful race-day, particularly with the cards they were dealt, and they should all be acknowledged for their effort in achieving that outcome.

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