Brown booked for NZ Doncaster Mile hope

Singapore-based Australian jockey Corey Brown will find his return for the Doncaster Mile less demanding than his last trip home.

Brown will ride Volkstok’n’barrell at 52.5kg in Saturday’s Group One race at Randwick after stripping down to 50kg for his most recent return to ride Ghisoni in the Coolmore Classic on March 12.

Volkstok’n’barrell

His weight has stabilised in Singapore during the past 12 months and he walks around at 52kg to 52.5kg most days of the week.

“Travelling from Singapore back home I’ve got to lose the weight before I get on the plane, so this week it certainly makes life a lot easier,” Brown said.

In second place on the Singapore jockeys’ premiership, Brown will ride at Kranji on Friday night before catching a midnight flight to Sydney.

Brown returns to Singapore on Sunday to partner rising star Spalato in the Kranji Sprint.

The jockey, who replaced an injured Michael Rodd on the gelding, has ridden Spalato to victory at his only two rides on the six-year-old.

Brown was only confirmed as the rider for Volkstok’n’barrell on Monday following Chris Waller’s decision to run Vanburgh in Saturday’s ATC Australian Derby.

“I had to wait until Chris made his decision and Donna was good enough to wait, so I’m pretty happy to pick up the ride,” Brown said.

“Reading through his form he’s a nice horse and that’s without looking at his videos.

“She said he’s done very, very well and in terrific form.

“We haven’t spoken in depth about him, but from what she told me, it didn’t take much convincing for me to make the trip over.”

Brown has 41 Group One victories but is yet to win the Doncaster.

However, he has enjoyed 1600m Group One success at Randwick including the 2003 Epsom Handicap on Clangalang, two George Main Stakes and a Flight Stakes.