Ethan Brown headed to Flemington on Saturday knowing it had the potential to be a red-letter day and the young hoop was delighted to see it live up to expectations.
Despite the disappointment of being unplaced on short-priced favourite Pharari in the last race, the 25-year-old had his best day at the world-famous venue when he partnered a winning treble.
Brown scored an effortless win aboard Berkshire Breeze in the Banjo Paterson Series Final and then followed up with wins aboard Jenni’s Meadow and Steel Run.
He had to waste to make Berkshire Breeze’s weight of 54.5kg and said it was great to be rewarded.
“It makes the hard work worthwhile,” Brown said.
“It’s certainly a thing I don’t do week in, week out but I had a handful of good rides today and I thought I’d put in the extra effort, so I’m glad it’s paid dividends.”
Saturday’s treble was Brown’s sixth at city level and second on a Saturday, but first at Flemington.
Berkshire Breeze, an import who has now won three in a row in effortless style, has the youngster excited ahead of the Spring Carnival.
“I wanted to see him do it again today and he certainly done it, so I think he’s cemented himself as a spring horse off the back of that,” Brown said of the grey, who is now a $15 chance in Melbourne Cup betting.
The other staying race on the card was the $200,000 Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) for three-year-olds, which Brown won aboard lightly-raced Real Steel gelding Steel Run for his former master Mick Kent.
“It was well-deserved, that win, for the horse who hasn’t had a lot of luck of recent (times).
“We knew he had the ability, but it’s just good to see him do it.”
Jenni’s Meadow scored her first win since her debut success at The Valley when she relished he step up to 1600m to defeat Lindsay Park stablemate Sneaky Sunrise and give Brown his Black Type win for the day in the $175,000 Listed Taj Rossi Series Final.
Pharari could manage only eighth position as a $2.20 betting site favourite in the $175,000 Listed Creswick Sprint Series Final (1200m) with Brown blaming her disappointing performance on unfamiliarity with the Flemington straight.