Husband and wife training team Emma-Lee and David Browne are hoping for a career-defining moment at Caulfield this weekend.
A win in the VOBIS Platinum Showdown (1200m) on Saturday with either McGaw or Himalayan would be their most significant success since launching their training partnership in 2015.
The couple began their career in New Zealand before relocating to Australia in 2022, initially setting up at Cranbourne before shifting to Pakenham last year.
While their stable has enjoyed consistent results, they are still in search of a standout performer, and McGaw could be the horse to take them to the next level.
The Showdown is a restricted race for progeny of Victorian-based stallions, and McGaw fits the criteria as a son of I Am Immortal, out of the mare Niki Piki Milo.
Purchased for just $14,000 from the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, McGaw made an immediate impression by winning his debut at Pakenham on January 30.
Rather than pursue the Blue Diamond path, the Brownes opted to target the Showdown’s $550,000 winner’s cheque, giving McGaw a short freshen-up before ramping up his preparation.
His lead-up included two visits to Caulfield, where he won a jump-out on March 5 before returning for a strong gallop on Tuesday.
The extra exposure has helped him mature, with noticeable improvement between his first and second visit.
“Since he’s been at Pakenham the whole time, we thought taking him elsewhere would be beneficial,” Emma-Lee Browne said.
“He handled it well, and this time around, he was much more relaxed.”
“Even Damian Lane was impressed with how calm he was in the tie-ups on Tuesday, which is a great sign.”
A win in the Showdown would be a landmark achievement for the stable.
“It would mean a lot, especially since we handpicked him ourselves,” Browne said.
“We’ve had great success with budget buys, and his ownership group has been fantastic—they’ve even invested in more yearlings with us.”
The Brownes will also saddle up Himalayan in Saturday’s feature.
A daughter of Frosted out of My Fire Phoenix, Himalayan was a $24,000 purchase at the Inglis Gold Sale in Melbourne.
She worked alongside McGaw in her final Showdown lead-up gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday, and Browne was pleased with the filly’s effort.
“She hasn’t raced yet, but she worked with McGaw, and I thought her gallop was fantastic,” Browne said.
