Victory in the VOBIS Platinum Showdown at Caulfield may not carry the same prestige as a Stakes win, but for Emma-Lee and David Browne, it means so much more.
McGaw’s triumph in Saturday’s $1 million 1200m race for two-year-olds marked their biggest win in eight years of training. The Brownes previously had Group 2 success with Belle Du Nord in New Zealand and Group 3 winner Elephant since moving to Pakenham two years ago.
Damian Lane bypassed the feature meeting in Sydney to ride McGaw ($6.50), who scored a half-length victory over Befuddle ($21), with Chergui ($13) finishing third.
Emma-Lee Browne purchased McGaw for just $14,000 as a yearling, and after Saturday’s win, the gelding has now earned nearly $600,000.
“We bypassed the Blue Diamond Series to focus on this race,” Browne said. “It’s a land of opportunity when you buy one for $14,000 and win a race like that.”
McGaw’s quirky nature and long legs caught Emma-Lee’s eye, despite her husband’s playful doubts about the gelding’s leg. “He’s such an amazing horse because he is a bit of a dork,” she said.
Lane noted McGaw is still raw, comparing him to a “big kid,” but believes with natural progression, the gelding has a bright future, potentially aiming for the spring.