Singapore-based Australian jockey Corey Brown has been racking up the frequent flier miles in recent weeks.
Brown has been making hit-and-run visits to the Sydney carnival over the past month and ventured to Caulfield on Saturday as the Melbourne carnival kicked into gear.
And being at Caulfield secured Brown the ride aboard Big Memory in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup after the import, trained by Tony McEvoy, cleared the ballot by winning the Herbert Power Stakes.
With Tommy Berry committed to riding The Offer in the Caulfield Cup, Brown got on the front foot and chased the ride on Big Memory who will be aiming to become the first horse to win the the Herbert Power-Caulfield Cup double since Master O’Reilly in 2007.
Big Memory has 50kg in the Caulfield Cup and cannot be re-handicapped for his victory, however weights will rise 2kg when the field is finalised.
The stayer has, however, received a 2kg Melbourne Cup penalty for the Herbert Power win, taking him to 52.5kg.
Brown said he would have no problems riding Big Memory at 52kg on Saturday despite missing Sunday’s meeting in Singapore and the upcoming meeting on Friday night through suspension.
“I rode up here at 51-1/2 (kg) last Friday night,” Brown told AAP from Singapore.
“I was a little more relaxed coming back and had something to eat, but losing weight up here is easier than back in Australia.”
Brown said the suspension meant he could head to Melbourne a little earlier on Friday and relax in the lead-up to the Caulfield Cup.
With racing in Singapore on a Friday night, Brown has been boarding a plane around midnight, arriving in Sydney or Melbourne, around 9 to 9.30am.
“I’m a pretty good sleeper and pretty much sleep the whole way,” Brown said.
“I haven’t booked a flight to Melbourne yet, but I’ll probably come down a bit earlier.”
Brown had already committed to returning to Melbourne to ride Bachman in the Caulfield Classic and at this stage has no plans to return to Australia on a permanent basis.
“I’ve applied for a another 12 months in Singapore,” Brown said.
“I like what I’m doing at the moment, riding up here and coming down for the carnivals and while its do-able I’d like to keep it going.”
