The roughies taking on Winx in Turnbull Stakes
FORMER picnic jockey Chris Brown can’t believe his first ride at Flemington will be against superstar Winx in the Turnbull Stakes.
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FORMER picnic jockey Chris Brown can’t believe his first ride at Flemington will be against superstar Winx in the Turnbull Stakes.
The former Kiwi jumps jockey, 46, is on Magicool who, with Skyfire, is $301 with TAB. They are two of six opponents taking on the legendary mare.
FEAR FACTOR: WINX BLAMED FOR TINY TURNBULL TURNOUT
MALLYON KEEN TO PUT CHAMP TO THE TEST
WEIR: WINX IS TOO GOOD FOR US
Winx is a $1.15 chance after a punter placed $94,150 on Winx at $1.15 to win $18,830.
Last Saturday, Brown rode at Pooncarie, NSW, 140km north of Mildura.
Brown was booked for two rides at Gunbower on Saturday. He was surprised when Magicool’s trainer Tony Romeo asked whether he wanted to ride at Flemington.
THE BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS
“I can’t believe that I’m riding against Winx,” Brown said. “It’s a great opportunity and will be something I remember forever.”
Brown was a successful jumps ride in New Zealand the early 1990s before he came to Australia with Graeme Rogerson as a track rider.
“I came for a six months holiday and stayed for 20 years,” Brown said. He worked as a track rider at Caulfield and came back to riding two years ago with a dual picnic and jumps licence.
Brown had success on the picnic circuit and this season took out a full jockey’s licence.
Magicool was a classy three-year-old who won at this meeting three years ago when trained by Mark Kavanagh, but he’s one of the horses who returned a cobalt positive.
He also won the 2015 Queensland Derby but has failed to fire since, beating just 10 horses in from his past 11 starts. He’s had two starts for Romeo for two lasts including last Friday’s Benalla Cup when ridden by Brown.
Romeo, a harness trainer for 30 years, now has a stable of six gallopers in his care.
“Chris rides trackwork for me and deserves his chance,” Romeo said. “The horse is fitter for his last start and this race will tell me where to head with him.”
Mornington trainer Amy Johnston is also looking forward to her outsider Skyfire racing.
“He’s fit and well and the race fitted in so I spoke to his owner’s, Geoff Guest and Jill Kewish, and they were keen to be in a race against Winx,” Johnston said.
“We’re under no illusions where we sit. He will run out the distance but his main aim will be a benchmark 58 at Moe in a few weeks.”
The good news for connections of Magicool and Skyfire is that sixth and seventh placegetter are guaranteed $10,000.
WINX’S TURNBULL OPPOSITION
HUMIDOR
Trainer: Darren Weir
Jockey: Damian Lane
The Australian Cup winner shapes as Winx’s main danger on Saturday. The gelding, who is second favourite for the Caulfiueld Cup, blew away the field with a barnstorming finish in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes last start. He has a great record at Flemington (3 starts, 2-0-0) and the distance (4; 3-1-0). However, trainer Darren Weir admitted on Tuesday he didn’t think his charge could topple Winx. “Take Winx out of the equation, I wouldn’t swap him for anything,” Weir said.
VENTURA STORM
Trainer: David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig
Jockey: Regan Bayliss
English import has only had three runs since arriving Down Under. Was given a break after running fifth at his Aussie debut at Flemington in May. Has finished out of the placings in two runs this campaign. Ran on fairly behind Humidor in the Makybe Diva Stakes and will appreciate the rise to 2000m. He will be even better suited over more ground.
ASSIGN
Trainer: Robert Hickmott
Jockey: Katelyn Mallyon
Veteran stayer from the Lloyd Williams team. Won the Herbert Power Stakes last spring before running 19th in the Mlebourne Cup. Won the Group 3 Sellwood Stakes on heavy ground over 2000m at Rosehill in the autumn. Was never a factor when resuming at Caulfield last month, but he has a good second-up record (5 starts; 3-1-1). Has failed in four starts at Flemington.
MAGICOOL
Trainer: Tony Romeo
Jockey: Christopher Brown
Winner of the Group 1 Queensaland Derby as a three-year-old, but has struggled ever since. The six-year-old has only beat one runner home at two of his past five starts.
SIR ISAAC NEWTON
Trainer: Robert Hickmott
Jockey: Damien Oliver
Another Lloyd Williams-owned runner. The former English stayer is yet to run a place in four starts in Australia, including a seventh in last year’s Caulfield Cup. Finished sixth in the Foundation Cup last start. One plus is he will have Damien Oliver in the saddle.
SKYFIRE
Trainer: Amy Johnston
Jockey: Dwayne Dunn
Has won three of 28 starts, most of those outings have been at the provincial tracks around Victoria. Finished last in a Benchmark 64 race at Geelong first-up then was beaten a length when fifth of seven runners at Mornington last start.