In a spring littered with fairytale finishes, comeback jockey Ethan Brown lodged a late entry for one of the best 30 minutes of the carnival.
Brown, who suffered life-threatening internal injuries in a fall last year, achieved what few other jockeys have been able to accomplish in the past month, out-riding superstar hoop James McDonald in a driving group 1 finish.
Brown won the $1.5 million Thousand Guineas by a head on 34-1 outsider Another Prophet, holding off McDonald as he came rattling home down the outside on the Chris Waller-trained favourite Aeliana.
Ethan Brown (right) with trainer Ciaron Maher after their win in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.Credit: Getty Images
But things just kept getting better for Brown. The 25-year-old hoop returned to scale to high-five one of the best trainers in the country, Ciaron Maher, before being given a heart-felt hug of congratulations by one the country’s other leading jockeys, Jamie Kah.
“We are all pretty close,” Brown explained of the feel-good reception.
But to top it off, he then heard a loud cheer from the side of the Caulfield mounting yard and looked across to see his grade 1 teacher from Alice Springs, “Mrs [Marg] Simonetto”.
“She actually comes to Flemington to watch me all the time,” Brown explained later. “I don’t think that happens very often to too many jockeys. She is a big supporter of mine.
“I know her daughter lives here [in Melbourne], so I think she comes and visits quite frequently.”
Brown left Alice Springs at 15 to take up an apprenticeship with Michael Kent at Cranbourne and, following years of hard work, homesickness and a fall that almost claimed his life, he has now ridden five group 1 winners.
“It was a very rocky road there for a bit, a lot of ups and downs, but I came out the other end in one piece, which is the main thing, and I worked from there,” Brown said.
Brown came crashing to the turf at Flemington during the Australian Guineas in March last year and suffered severe internal injuries, including a lacerated liver. He underwent three life-saving operations at Royal Melbourne Hospital and spent a week in an induced coma.
Brown stormed to victory on Another Prophet.Credit: Getty Images
As he started the slow road to recovery, he was unable to speak for a month because his vocal cords had been bruised by the tubes and ventilation equipment needed to keep him breathing.
It then took 12 months and two comebacks before he felt comfortable again in the saddle.
James McDonald is the star hoop of his generationCredit: Getty Images
“It all comes down to your support crew,” Brown said of his return to full race fitness. “I have got such good family and friends around me who got me through those tougher times after the fall.
“They uplift you. When you are around positive people, they seem to get you through those tough times, and that’s certainly what they have done.
“To get the support of trainers like Ciaron Maher just makes the job a lot easier.”
Brown book-ended the spring with group 1 victories, winning the Moir Stakes in September on Mornington Glory followed by the Thousand Guineas on Maher’s Another Prophet.
“They all feel like my first,” he said. “But I have got a long way to go to catch J-Mac (104).”
He did not have to catch McDonald at Caulfield on Saturday, he had to hold him off. The country’s best jockey flew late to almost nab Brown on the line.
“I knew he would have been coming, but he was certainly coming a lot quicker than I anticipated,” Brown said. “He has knocked me off so many times it is good to get one back on him.”
McDonald said Aeliana hit a flat spot as they rounded the home bend at Caulfield and that ultimately cost them the race.
“She lets herself down that way,” McDonald said. “Had she balanced up better earlier she would have won.”
Maher said Another Prophet had thrived so much since her last start second in the Carbine Club Stakes that he said to Brown as they headed out onto the track, “well, I think we can win this”.
“He rode her so confidently, it was a very comfortable watch,” the trainer said.
“Just fantastic, Brownie. He’s a good mate, we’ve had some great wins together and hopefully, there’s plenty more in store.”
The second group1 of the day, the $1 million Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, was won by another outsider, the 25-1 Kimochi, ridden by Craig Williams and trained by Gary Portelli for Yulong Stud.
“There was a bit of pressure on us, Yulong have been on fire with their famous colours in the last few weeks,” Portelli said.
“They paid $2.2 million for her at the Inglis sales and we’ve been able to win a group 1 and she’s worth probably three times that now.”
Yulong have had a successful month, winning the Cox Plate and Champions Stakes with super mare Via Sistina as well as the VRC Oaks with Treasurethe Moment.
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