The Pakenham stable of Emma-Lee and David Browne are looking forward to being spring contenders this year having assembled their best team of horses.
They have Statuario, Scary and Basilinna entered in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 with Scary also among Cox Plate (2040m) nominations a week later.
But their spring gets an early start on Saturday when the unbeaten Mcgaw lines up in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Emma-Lee Browne said the two Group 1 races for three-year-olds – the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11 and the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on November 1 – are being considered.
Browne said McGaw’s first two runs of the campaign will determine in which direction they head.
If all goes to plan on Saturday, McGaw will then head to Group 3 H D F McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 30.
“Hopefully the Guineas, but he is quite quick, so we’ll find out in these first few starts which way we go, whether that’s the Coolmore or press on to the Guineas,” Browne said.
“We’re vulnerable this time, but after his next run, hopefully we’ll know which way we’re going.”
McGaw is unbeaten in his two starts to date.
A debut winner at Pakenham in January, McGaw returned to win The Showdown (1200m) at Caulfield in March.
Browne said McGaw had been given just one jump-out, on the recommendation of jockey Damian Lane, ahead of Saturday’s return.
“We’ve only given him one jump-out, and he did it really, really well, but given he’s a bit of a charger and we spoke to Damian, he said he wasn’t going to learn much at the trials,” Browne said.
“So, we thought we’d go to the races. I quite like the draw and hopefully he can take a sit and get a little bit of cover.
“Damian knows what he’s doing, so that’s his job, but he’s vulnerable with that one jump-out and he still hasn’t quite come on in the coat, but it’s a long spring.
“We’re looking forward to Saturday, but it’s come up quite a tough field.”
New Zealand expatriates, the Browne’s have been in Melbourne three-and-half years and got a taste of spring last year with Scary running second in the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington and Statuario finishing second in the Listed Batman Stakes on Melbourne Cup Day.
“It’s very exciting times ahead with the horses we’ve got this year,” Browne said.
“We’ve been here three-year-and-years and had a good spring last year, but spent a lot of time coming second.
“It’s great to be a part of it and especially to have some nice horses.”
