Three years ago Ethan Brown never wanted to ride again after a race fall that he was lucky to survive.
On Tuesday, he won the Melbourne Cup at the same track.
‘I knew we’d won’
It’s a feeling most dream about – knowing you’ve won the Cup with some distance still to run.
Brown, in winning his first Cup and 13th Group 1, said he knew he was going to win Australia’s most famous race well before the finish.
“I knew pre-race, I had a plan. I knew he had the best turn of foot in the race. He’s a superior animal, but the key to utilise that turn of foot was to switch him off,” he said.
“So I had to ride him patiently, weaved our way through, but once we got clear air, I reckon it was about the 350, he’s accelerated, he quickened like a sprinter at the end and when he hit that top gear, I knew we’d won.
“I still looked up and Royal Supremacy was a good five [lengths] in front but just that feeling he gave me at the 350, I knew we were in.”
Brown still hasn’t watched the replay of his famous win and concedes he cannot comprehend what he has just achieved “at a young age”.
“I can’t describe it,” he said.
“I had a lot of different feelings running through but … the main one would be, it’s a good feeling.
“I mean, how, how else do you describe it? I mean, I need to let it sink in, and I haven’t even watched the replay yet.”
‘You’re delusional, mate’
Brown’s story has been well told.
Following a fall he was lucky to survive in 2023 at Flemington, he openly admits he was done.
He was eyeing off a training career before another trainer and a good friend talked him out of it.
Now that trainer – Ciaron Maher – and Brown have just won the Melbourne Cup.
“Whether I had the heart, whether I had the heart to start training, I’m not sure, but Ciaron certainly made sure I didn’t and he was very firm about that,” Brown said.
“He said, ‘You’re delusional, mate, like, just get back riding’ and yeah, he, he supported me along the way and plenty, plenty of good advice.
“There’s a fair age gap between us, but we get along really well. We’re quite good mates now, and as I said, he’s done nothing but support me, and to win a Melbourne Cup is just the, the cream on top.”
‘I’ve grown up’
While Brown talks about the dark times following his fall and return to riding, he concedes he has also matured as an athlete.
“It’s been a learning curve. That fall was a big learning curve,” he said.
“I didn’t rush back, but I gave myself time, but by the time I got to the races, I still wasn’t ready.
“I was sort of tricking myself into telling myself I was ready. So I rode for probably a month, and I thought I’m not ready for this.
“And I, I took a step back, and it took me another month or two, and that’s at that stage where I thought, ‘I don’t even know if I’m gonna come back.’
“At the end of that sort of month or two, I just had a slow burn. I woke up one morning and thought, ‘I need to get back riding.’
“Certainly I had a lot of people in my ear saying, ‘You should really consider coming back’ and, and that’s how it went, and when I got back … I was hungry again, and it was full bore.
“Mentally, I’ve grown up. I’m just sort of putting things into blocks of work, structuring my work that way. And that, that means, you know, just staying quiet, not going out. You know, just bit of sacrifice here and there and it’s certainly paid off today.”
‘He has helped me get to the next level’
Brown also revealed how former jockey Simon Marshall has helped take his riding career to a new level.
“Simon Marshall has come on board the last 12 months and I felt he has helped me get to the next level, just in terms of mindset, preparation … he does help with tactics a bit and as, as I said, he knows what it takes,” he said.
“He’s sort of been there before. But just to have someone like him who understands it so well, just to help with the mindset and fronting up to these big days, as I said, he has helped me get to the next level.”
Brown also praised Mick Kent. Brown moved from the Northern Territory to ride for the veteran trainer, and the rest is history.
“My grassroots, Alice Springs, I come from there,” he said.
“My family, they let me go at a young age, I came to Mick Kent and … he showed me what it takes to sorta get there.
“It’s been a bumpy road. Even back then I was sorta stop-starty, but I’ve had a lot of good people around me, friends, family and, and owners. I’ve had a lot of backing from good owners recently. I’ve gotta pinch myself.”
‘Tie one on on Sunday’
Brown recently attended a family wedding, but with the need to ride at 53kg, Brown couldn’t enjoy the food or booze.
But he will have to wait a few more days to celebrate properly.
“I’ll have a little bit tonight. Probably won’t go too mad. I’ll get through the rest of the week and tie one on Sunday.”
