First winner for Stephen Brown Jnr caps great week for Stable

Saturday saw young apprentice Stephen Brown Jnr celebrate his first race winner!

Having commuted from Melbourne to Darwin to ride Sound of the Ocean for his father, Brown Jnr guided Sound of the Ocean to a resounding all the way win in the Rating 54 handicap over 1200m. He rated the horse to perfection from the front and had the race won shortly after straightening.

“To get my first winner was a huge thrill, and I’m over the moon to have been on one of Dad’s horses”, said Brown Jnr.

“I know I have to keep working hard and that’s what I plan to do to build on this”.

The week had begun brightly for the Brown stable when their promising 3yo Hard Lil won at Mornington last Monday. Lining up in the 0-64 3yo fillies event over 1500m, Hard Lil overcame few favours in the run to sprint quickly once a gap came and dispose of a quality field by 2 lengths.

The daughter of Hard Spun has now earned in excess of $90,000 from her 7 starts and this win was her second in three starts, with a luckless run at Moonee Valley sandwiched between wins at Echuca and now Mornington.

Trainer Stephen Brown has Hard Lil nominated to run again this Wednesday at Ballarat and in her present form with Patrick Moloney on board again she will be very hard to beat.

Last Wednesday at Bendigo the stable had the very promising Harbour Grey salute at only his second start in the 1300m maiden.

From an outside gate Ben Melham had the son of Mastercraftsman on speed and he used an explosive turn of foot after turning to put the large field away quite quickly.

Trainer Stephen Brown bought the gelding privately for some stable clients off a trial in New Zealand and is rapt with his early progress.

“He’s a lovely animal still learning how to be a racehorse. He’ll be even better when he draws to get some cover and chase”.