Grant Peters
Corey Brown enjoyed one of his finest racing moments in 2009 when he guided Shocking to victory in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
The vastly-experienced jockey will now have an opportunity to taste Group One glory aboard a son of the now Rich Hill Stud-based stallion when he teams up with Chocante in The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on September 30.
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh confirmed Brown’s booking in the wake of the stayer’s seventh placing in the Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) last Saturday.
Chocante enjoyed a good run behind the pace before rider Blake Shinn made an early move on the five-year-old.
“From the 800m to the 200m he ran 34.2 and in his first run over ground that was probably asking a bit too much,” Marsh said.
“He’s come through the race really well though and he was on the treadmill on Monday morning and this morning he had a nice canter.
“It’s onwards and upwards with only 54.5kg to The Metropolitan now.”
Chocante had earlier finished an encouraging third in his Sydney debut behind the champion mare Winx in the Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
Meanwhile on the home front, Marsh is looking forward to the return to racing at Te Rapa on Wednesday of She Brings Joy in the Go to the Cox Plate with the Boys’ Trip (1400m).
She hasn’t raced since she was successful at her fourth start in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie in January.
“She definitely won’t be a big fan of the heavy track, but we have to get her going,” Marsh said. “She’s very well and her quality will take her a long way.” – NZ Racing Desk.