The bush jockey going from riding hacks to taking on Winx

Ben Dorries - Thursday October 5

From riding hacks to taking on Winx.

Advertisement
Journeyman bush jockey Christopher Brown will pull up at Flemington in his trusty Ford Kuga Diesel to take on Winx in the Turnbull Stakes.

It's all in a week's work for journeyman former jumps jockey Christopher Brown who last Saturday was riding bush battlers at Pooncarie, a quiet village in south-western NSW which Burke and Wills once passed though.

On Saturday the 46-year-old larrikin former Kiwi, who rides at plenty of off-the-beaten track locations such as King Island in Tasmania, will take his first city ride in Melbourne.

And it's not just any city ride.

It might be on a $301 outsider that has no chance of winning, but Brown doesn't give a stuff about such trivial matters.

Signed up to take the ride on Magicool and tangle with Winx in the Group I Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, he just wants to enjoy the ride.

Not that his mum has quite realised the enormity of the moment.

"I'm a Group I jockey now, you can't take that away from me," Brown laughed.

"I rang my Mum in New Zealand and I was so excited when I told her I would be riding against Winx.

"She had no idea who Winx was, and I had to explain to her she was the world's best horse.

"To be honest I'm just going to go out in this race and have a bit of fun.

"Even though we can't probably beat Winx, I will try to.

"Who would have thought I'd be even getting a ride in the city, let along in a Group I race?

"A few years ago I was struggling to get a license and I was just riding at the picnics.

"It would be a real rags to riches story in a lot of ways and Magicool and I happened to spring a big upset."

Brown's motto is have saddle will travel and he hops in his trusty Ford Kuga diesel and goes just about anywhere and everywhere for a ride.

He lives in a small town not far from Seymour and got the Magicool ride through his association with trainer Tony Romeo.

Brown was a jumps jockey for more than a decade in the north island of New Zealand before he moved to Australia two decades ago to help out fellow Kiwi Graeme Rogerson around his stables.

He also worked for Gai Waterhouse for a while.

Brown gave up riding for 13 years but fell in love with the saddle again a few years back.

"I probably ride in various locations across three or four states," he said.

"I'm a real bush jockey, I can't afford the plane flights, so I just hop on the road and drive to wherever I have got to get to.

"I've ridden in all sorts of places in the bush and it's always a fun time, there are a lot of little communities who put on a good race day."

While Brown has never ridden at Flemington, he isn't completely unfamiliar with the place.

He has strapped horses there for Benalla trainer Peter Smith and also for the likes of Peter Moody and Rick Hore-Lacy.

But it will be an entirely different feeling if Brown and Magicool are eyeballing the mighty Winx at any stage during the Turnbull.

Even if that happens 1600m from the finishing post.

"It would be great to be next to Winx at some stage in the race and that will probably happen early, as I am drawn alongside her," Brown said.

"I just hope someone gets a picture of me riding Magicool with Winx just over my shoulder."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Hello Youmzain 2YO Set to Star for Sharrock
Saturday is shaping to be a busy day for Allan Sharrock, with stakes assignments both at home and away for the New Plymouth trainer.
Justify Double At Canterbury – Relations to both sell at Inglis Easter
Favourite backers were cheering on Friday night at Canterbury when odds on chances Willingham and Just Maz took out races three and four with the promising pair of winners both 3yos by Coolmore’s Justify (USA).
Lindsay Park Flying Ahead of Kiwi Target Races
First-time travellers Arkansaw Kid and Torture will fly the Lindsay Park flag at Ellerslie with a third member of the party to be on hand for the defence of a stable title early next month.
Kinnaird Looking to Extend Te Akau Dominance
The Karaka Millions twilight meeting is always a key focus for Te Akau Racing, and they are set to have another strong hand in this year’s edition.
Bidding Open - Magic Millions Digital's Latest Line-Up Now Online
Buyers looking for a ready made racehorse and a star of the future will enjoy the opportunities on offer in the latest Magic Millions Digital (23-28 January) Sale which is now online with bidding open.
Hedged Wins G2 Australia Stakes – Track Record
A stakes-winner at Sandown on Boxing Day and then down the track at his next start when unplaced, connections elected to ‘roll the dice’ on talented Capitalist sprinter Hedged and give him his shot in the $350,000 Group II MVRC Australia Stakes (1200m) and were well rewarded.
Yulong Invest in Another Star Kiwi Filly
Yulong Investments have furthered their position among New Zealand’s racing ranks this week with the purchase of eye-catching Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) winner Ohope Wins.
I Am Invincible Half-Sister To G1 Winner Manaal Breaks Maiden
Fourth on debut back in August, Michael Freedman’s 3yo I Am Invincible filly Rajwa was required to fight late, but the half-sister to G1 winner Manaal (Tassort) had too much in hand, breaking her maiden at Canterbury on Friday night for breeder/owner Emirates Park.
First Stakes Success For Spirit Of Boom Mare Liquor
The outsider of four runners in Friday night’s Listed GCTC Goldmarket (1100m) for Queensland’s Champion trainer Tony Gollan, 6yo Spirit Of Boom mare Liquor gave nothing else a chance, charging clear after leading throughout to record her first black type victory.
Vendors Count Down to Historic NZ National Yearling Sale
Some of the most respected names in the New Zealand thoroughbred industry will be out in force at Karaka over the next few days during the milestone 100th edition of the National Yearling Sale.