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...
Another Promising Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) will be parading at Coolmore next Sunday and the champion son of Siyouni is warming to the task of siring winners with Venetian Prince opening his account at Newbury in the UK overnight.
Skyhook Asserts Authority In Rosebud Victory
Arguably one of the leading 2yo colts last season with victory in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes, Written Tycoon’s Skyhook resumed with a significant weight impost to win the Listed Rosebud at Rosehill on Saturday.
Pride And Proven - Private Eye Wins The G2 PB Lawrence Stakes
Taking his earnings past $12.3m for connections with his thirteenth career win, and seventh at black type level, Proven Thoroughbreds and Joe Pride’s gallant war-horse Private Eye (Al Maher) recorded and easy watch victory in the Gr2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes on Saturday at Caulfield.
Lightly Raced Ferivia Wins G3 Quezette Stakes
Making just her third race day appearance, the Phillip Stokes trained Astern filly Ferivia made the step to black type racing with ease, winning $200,000 Group 3 MRC Quezette Stakes on Saturday at Caulfield.
Consecutive Wins for Farnan's Ninja
Highlighted as a Breednet One To Watch off the back of his impressive debut win, the Michael Freedman trained 3yo Farnan gelding Ninja continued his winning form, heading to the city on Saturday to record consecutive race victories.
Five Straight and a Stakes Victory for Pop Award
There is a myriad of Snitzel sons at stud this spring, but for value and proven credentials it’s impossible to go past Rosemont Stud’s Cox Plate hero Shamus Award, who posted his first stakes-winner of the new season when exciting mare Pop Award landed the Listed MRC Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 16
Here is the full list of 118 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
More Success for Pierro's War Eternal
Accomplished galloper War Eternal scored the fifth win of his career and took his earnings past A$750,000 with a determined victory in Saturday’s Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill.
Tajana Makes Brilliant Return in Breeders’ Stakes
The Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) has often been the one that got away for Shaune Ritchie, but Tajana’s superb first-up performance at Ruakaka on Saturday has the Cambridge trainer dreaming of a breakthrough in the Riccarton classic.
Vain Stakes Success For I Am Invincible Colt Jimmy Recard
Bennett Racing appear to have another potential topline colt in their ownership as I Am Invincible colt Jimmy Recard records his third consecutive win, taking out the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.