BROWNIE'S BLOG: SOME GREAT RACING COMING UP OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. TIME TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY IT

By Damian Browne | Thursday, February 27, 2020

Brownie’s Blog is the weekly blog of the now retired, multiple Group 1 winning jockey Damian Browne. In this edition Brownie talks about how much quality racing there is to look forward to over the coming months. Carnivals, such as the upcoming Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, are served up as a treat to racegoers taking them to a more exciting level than the normal, run-of-the mill, daily fixtures. Big races. Established stars with old rivalries. New contenders … it will all be there in abundance and it is there to be enjoyed by every racing enthusiast. Brownie, for one, will be doing just that. This Brownie’s Blog – exclusive to HRO.

There is some great racing coming up both in Melbourne and Sydney, particularly in Sydney in the next couple of months.

This Saturday everybody will be hoping for a great rematch between of Alligator Blood and Catalyst in the Australian Guineas at Flemington. They are obviously not the only chances in the eight-horse field but they are the headline act.

The disappointing thing is that, similar to their last clash, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of pace in the race. The way I would have liked to see them would be for them to be sitting back as the second or third pair waiting to have a crack at each other … but with little speed there that is unlikely to be the case.

They probably won’t be in that position, but the likelihood is that they will still probably still be beside each other, if not in the lead than close to the front. The jockeys might even talk to each other again. There is no doubt it is going to be a very interesting race.

I do find a bit of concern in trainer David Vandyke’s comments that the possibility is there that Alligator Blood could be coming to the end of a long preparation and that he might be going out to the paddock after this. You don’t want to over-read that situation and David is just being honest about the possibilities … but I do find it concerning.

On the one hand it does sound like that last run took a fair bit out of the horse but, on the other hand, knowing David, he would certainly not run the horse on Saturday if he was not one hundred percent up for it.

I guess Catalyst’s connections wouldn’t mind if he went to the paddock instead of the All-Star Mile. In fact, I’m sure they would be very happy about it as would the connections of the runner that gets into the race in place of Alligator Blood but that’s getting ahead of ourselves.

The bottom line is David will make the right call … whatever it is!
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The question mark about the 1600m trip regarding Alligator Blood v Catalyst?

It’s pretty difficult to line that up. I know Catalyst won the Group 1, 2000 Guineas in New Zealand in his only go at the distance to date … but that clearly would have been a different quality of race compared to the Caulfield Guineas in which was Alligator Blood suffered his only defeat in his only start over 1600m.

In all fairness Alligator Blood was a little bit unlucky to get beaten that day in a race in which he basically did everything but win. He was only one stride away from it.

It is going to be an intriguing race. I think tactics are going to play a huge part.

James McDonald, who rode Catalyst last time, is obviously a great rider but the horse’s connections have now reverted back to Damian Lane. (Back in January Lane was announced as Catalyst’s rider for his entire campaign in Melbourne but he had to miss the ride in the C S Hayes due to suspension).

Damian will be having his first race ride on Catalyst on Saturday. They are losing nothing in ability with the booking of Damian … he is a very good rider … but I personally would rather have liked to see the same jockey on the horse again.
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Another Kiwi contender will be in action in the Group 1 Chipping Norton in Sydney in the form of Te Akau Shark.

This is a horse I think is going to win some big races in Australia.

There is no doubt about it. He is top line, top class racehorse.

Even when he was getting beaten here last year, he was putting in terrific runs. He finished second in both the Tramway and the Epsom (behind Dreamforce and Kolding respectively) and then was third in the Cox Plate behind (Lys Gracieuxs).

Those were his only three starts in Australia to date and it adds up to an impressive record. Throw in the fact that he was a Group 1 winner in New Zealand last time when resuming after a three-month break and you can see why he deserves to be held in high regard.

To me, he really looks like the real deal!
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I have only mentioned a few good horses in detail to show how much racing is warming up down south and to point you in that direction for your racing pleasure.

There are so many other horses I could have mentioned …. such as the Flight Stakes winner Funstar, the Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi, the Karaka Millions winner Probabeel, the unbeaten How Womantic and the Light Fingers winner Flit who are all due to face the starter in the Surround Stakes in Sydney on Saturday.

Another intriguing contest filled with quality racehorses.

And, of course, this is all just part of the build-up to the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival featuring The Golden Slipper and The Championships where Cox Plate winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi will target the Doncaster with Mozu Ascot.

Take the local stars, the best New Zealand has to offer and an international presence … well, that’s a combination which takes the everyday racing to a new level.

I am going to enjoy it. I hope you do too.

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