Jonathan Brown will be cheering his Lions and racehorse Beast Mode on AFL grand final day

If Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown goes missing at halftime during the AFL grand final, there’s a good reason ... Beast Mode is getting activated.

Jonathan Brown will be cheering on his beloved Brisbane Lions in the AFL grand final on Saturday but also racehorse Beast Mode which is racing at Eagle Farm on the same afternoon. Picture Mark Calleja

Even if his beloved Brisbane Lions get beaten in Saturday’s grand final, AFL legend Jonathan Brown could still be a winner.

Two decades on from becoming a triple-premiership player with the Lions, Brown will be cheering them on as they take on Collingwood at the MCG.

But at 3.37pm on Saturday – when it is likely to be halftime in the grand final and Brown will be on commentary analysis duties – there will be another important moment.

Racehorse Beast Mode, an impressive David Vandyke-trained sprinter who has won four from six, will line up in the BM75 Handicap over 1000m at Eagle Farm.

Brown is in the ownership of Beast Mode through the “Broady Cats” syndicate.

Syndicator and Beast Mode’s managing owner Jarred Magnabosco takes up the story.

“Jon Brown could have a massive day on Saturday, watching his Brisbane Lions and hopefully he will get a break to watch Beast Mode,” Magnabosco said.

“Jon is in the ownership, under the Broady Cats who are about 20 AFL fellas.

“Jon loves the horse and regularly talks about it on his podcast.”

Jonathan Brown is one of the owners of Beast Mode. Picture: Darren England

Brown isn’t the only sporting champion in Beast Mode.

Lawn bowler Mark Casey, who won a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, is also a part-owner of Beast Mode.

Beast Mode resumed in early September with a win over 1000m at Eagle Farm and has since won a Sunshine Coast trial.

But it’s some of his earlier form – including a runner-up finish to Tony Gollan sprinter All That Pizzazz which knocked off boom horse Yellow Brick to score last Saturday’s Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba – that has Beast Mode’s connections hoping of big things to come.

Beast Mode winning at Eagle Farm. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

“The only two horses to have beaten Beast Mode are the Weetwood winner and also Chinny Boom who had a pretty big wrap on her at the time,” Magnabosco said.

“Beast Mode has come back and won first-up well.

“At 1000(m) we are definitely up to a really good level.

“Last preparation was basically his first prep, he won three in a row and ran second to All That Pizzazz.

“We think this horse is going to step up to the mark this Saturday.”

Beast Mode, who will be ridden by Justin Huxtable, is the $2.50 favourite to continue on his winning ways.

Originally published as Jonathan Brown will be cheering his Lions and racehorse Beast Mode on AFL grand final day