Ethan Brown has been unable to ride on the limit weight for several seasons but it may become the new normal as his latest effort to shed kilos was again rewarded with Flemington feature race success aboard Sirius Suspect
Ethan Brown has been unable to ride on the limit weight for several seasons but it may become the new normal as his latest effort to shed kilos was again rewarded with Flemington feature race success aboard Sirius Suspect.
The eight-year-old gelding trained by Saab Hasan followed up last month’s Listed All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) win at Flemington on July 2 by defeating six rivals in Saturday’s $200,000 G3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Sirius Suspect carried the minimum weight in both black type handicap sprints of 54kg and prior to the All Victorian Sprint Series Final, Brown had ridden at that weight once since August 2017 when unsuccessful aboard odds-on favourite Riding the Wave in last year’s Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m).
Brown started last season in inglorious circumstances, sidelined during the spring for breaching COVID-19 protocols, but has flourished in recent months.
His win aboard Chartres in April’s $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield was the biggest of his career prior to achieving Group 1 success aboard Snapdancer in the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville the following month.
Brown’s two stakes victories aboard Sirius Suspect represent his first black type wins in Melbourne and Hasan credited Brown for his role in coaxing Sirius Suspect back to winning form this winter.
Ethan Brown has been unable to ride on the limit weight for several seasons but it may become the new normal as his latest effort to shed kilos was again rewarded with Flemington feature race success aboard Sirius Suspect.
The eight-year-old gelding trained by Saab Hasan followed up last month’s Listed All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) win at Flemington on July 2 by defeating six rivals in Saturday’s $200,000 G3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Sirius Suspect carried the minimum weight in both black type handicap sprints of 54kg and prior to the All Victorian Sprint Series Final, Brown had ridden at that weight once since August 2017 when unsuccessful aboard odds-on favourite Riding the Wave in last year’s Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m).
.@saabhasan chats after his terrific win in Sirius Suspect 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/hrimJ5SunJ
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 6, 2022
Sirius Suspect loves the straight!
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 6, 2022
He takes out the Aurie's Star Handicap with @Brown_ethan8 onboard 👊@saabhasan pic.twitter.com/GC20i20mS4
Brown started last season in inglorious circumstances, sidelined during the spring for breaching COVID-19 protocols, but has flourished in recent months.
His win aboard Chartres in April’s $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield was the biggest of his career prior to achieving Group 1 success aboard Snapdancer in the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville the following month.
Brown’s two stakes victories aboard Sirius Suspect represent his first black type wins in Melbourne and Hasan credited Brown for his role in coaxing Sirius Suspect back to winning form this winter.
“They (Hasan and stable track walker Peter Ellis) were adamant that they wanted that lane (of the track), we again backed our judgement and it paid off,” Brown said.
“He travelled well early, he had an easy enough lead, and keeping in mind some of the horses behind us were first up, I let him roll from the 600 metres and that’s where I felt he won the race.
“He gave me a better feel this start than last start, and sustained a really strong gallop, and seems to be thriving with age and racing.
“He can go on with it although he was really well placed today and got in well at the weights.”
There is also a feeling Brown is ready to ‘go on with it’ himself due to his newfound lightweight status.
“I’ve been doing it (riding lighter) the last month and each time I’ve done it, I’m feeling better,” Brown said.
“Coming into this time of year with the spring on the horizon, I don’t see why I can’t keep doing it.
“They (Hasan and stable track walker Peter Ellis) were adamant that they wanted that lane (of the track), we again backed our judgement and it paid off,” Brown said.
“He travelled well early, he had an easy enough lead, and keeping in mind some of the horses behind us were first up, I let him roll from the 600 metres and that’s where I felt he won the race.
“He gave me a better feel this start than last start, and sustained a really strong gallop, and seems to be thriving with age and racing.
“He can go on with it although he was really well placed today and got in well at the weights.”
There is also a feeling Brown is ready to ‘go on with it’ himself due to his newfound lightweight status.
“I’ve been doing it (riding lighter) the last month and each time I’ve done it, I’m feeling better,” Brown said.
“Coming into this time of year with the spring on the horizon, I don’t see why I can’t keep doing it.