Damian Browne has been the big winner from the knee injury to Kerrin McEvoy; with the leading Brisbane jockey picking up the plumb rides on Earthquake and Mohave in their respective 2014 Blue Diamond Prelude events at Caulfield tomorrow.
Damian Browne is confident that Earthquake can produce an impressive performance in the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Browne was offered the ride on classy filly Earthquake after McEvoy ruled himself out with injury, with back-up jockey Damien Oliver already booked to ride Singularity, and told Racing Ahead that he is excited to partner the daughter of Exceed And Excel who won so impressively on debut in the Colin Pearce Birthday Plate (1000m).
“It is a great opportunity and I am looking forward to riding such a quality filly,” Browne said.
“I haven’t had a chance to have a good talk to them about it at the moment, but obviously watching her videos and stuff like that she is a really exciting filly.
“It is great to have that turn-of-foot and you need it to win these sort of races.
“I am looking forward to her running well.”
Mohave has not received the same amount of hype as Earthquake, but has performed well in his two race starts to date; finishing second behind Law in the Listed Thoroughbred Breeders Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick last October before resuming with a win in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield on January 25.
Browne said that he was impressed with the way that the Exceed And Excel colt hit the line in the Blue Diamond Preview, but admits that classy colt Rubick may be difficult to beat in the Blue Diamond Colts And Geldings Prelude this weekend.
“He had a lovely run the other day and he hit the line well; I thought that he was still holding the second horse pretty strongly on the line,” Browne said.
“He should get a lovely run from his alley, but Rubick looks to be a very smart horse as well.”
Browne has also been booked to ride consistent gelding Carillo in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield tomorrow.
Earthquake is rated Browne’s best winning chance on Saturday by punters, with the juvenile currently available at odds of $1.70 in Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude betting markets, while Mohave ($14) and Carillo ($15) are both rated outside chances in their respective events.
