Top Australian jockey Corey Brown could not have hoped for a better script when he kicked off his Singapore stint with a winner at his very first day of riding on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
And by a happy coincidence, his winning ride Lord Brompton in the $55,000 Ninetyfive Emperor Class 4 Division 1 race over 1400m was for a trainer who happens to bear the same surname and initials as well – Cliff Brown, but who is of no relation.
The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey (Shocking in 2009) was not at his first successful combination with the former Victorian-based trainer, having enjoyed success on the odd occasion they teamed up, most notably with Rizon in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield in 2004.
Lord Brompton, who started as the $13 favourite, came from well back to score by a widening margin of 1 ¼ lengths from Marcusino (Barend Vorster) with Big Respect (Joao Moreira) third another head away. The winning time was 1min 22.99secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
Brown, who has ridden at the old Bukit Timah racecourse in the past and also rode at the Singapore Airlines International Cup meeting in 2001 (Hill Of Grace – 4th in SIA Cup - and Military Chief – 7th in KrisFlyer Sprint), is spending two months at Kranji before heading to France to live a lifelong dream of riding there.
Prior to getting off the mark aboard Lord Brompton, Brown had finished out of the placings on three outsiders (Suggestahabit, Good Vibrations and Takeaim) and was certainly relieved he was able to get that first win out of the way sooner rather than later.
“I’ve ridden everywhere in Asia and I know how important it is to kick off with a winner very early,” said Brown.
“Cliff told me that horse (Lord Brompton) was still a bit green and not to knock him too early in the run. He fumbled a bit when I bounced him out at the start and I was not able to be as close as I wanted.
“I was a little concerned by the tempo, but he did a good job in the end and was very strong to the line.”
Brown, who arrived in Singapore on Sunday morning after riding a winner (Midsummer Sun) the day before at Morphettville in Adelaide, but failed on hot favourite Snitzerland in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (won by Platelet), was also chuffed he had booted home a winner for an old reunion of sorts.
“Cliff and I have had a bit of success before, same name and initials and all. He didn’t support me a lot as I was then riding in Sydney,” recalled Brown.
“It was nice of him to put me on a horse with a decent chance today.”
Brown, the trainer, said he had no hesitation in booking Brown following the unavailability of Lord Brompton’s regular rider.
“Johnny (Powell) was committed to Black Jack and I was happy to get Corey on,” said Brown. “We’ve had a few wins in the past and I remember Rizon in the Herbert Power as one of the major ones we've won together.
“This horse (Lord Brompton) had done nothing wrong at his first prep and we gave him a bit of a break and he won well first-up.
“He will improve from that run and can certainly run a trip.”
A four-year-old gelding by Delago Brom, Lord Brompton, who is raced by the Barree Stable, had one win on the board at Kranji before his short let-up, in an Initiation race over 1600m on January 6. He has now brought his local earnings to just a tick under $100,000.
