Kiwi trainer Donna Logan has snapped up Singapore based jockey Corey Brown to ride Volkstok’N’Barrell in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on the first day of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday.
Volkstok’N’Barrel, above. will be ridden by Corey Brown in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Volkstok’N’Barrel mount began available when Melbourne jockey Craig Williams, who was booked to ride, was suspended for eleven meetings for careless riding at Ladbrokes Park Sandown last Wednesday.
Williams is out for the saddle from midnight March 28 until midnight April 6 and will be back to ride on the second day of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday week.
Brown will ride at Kranji in Singapore on Friday night them immediately catch a flight to Sydney for Saturday’s meeting and then return to Singapore for Sunday’s meeting.
Volkstok’N’Barrell has been handicapped with 52.5kg, a weight well within Brown’s range, which will make his trip more comfortable.
“Travelling from Singapore back home I’ve got to lose the weight before I get on the plane, so this week it certainly makes life a lot easier,” Brown told AAP.
Volkstok’N’Barrell is the winner of three Group 1 races, including the 2015 Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill during last year’s Sydney Autumn Carnival.
And the Tavistock four year old is racing in dynamic form with two Group 1 wins from his last two start in New Zealand in the Group 1 NZ$200,000 Haunui Farm Classic (1600m) at Otaki on February 27 and in the Group 1 NZ$200,000 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 12.
“I’m pretty happy to pick up the ride,” Brown said.
“Reading through his form he’s a nice horse and that’s without looking at his videos.
“She said he’s done very, very well and in terrific form.
“We haven’t spoken in depth about him, but from what she told me, it didn’t take much convincing for me to make the trip over.”
Logan, who trains in partnership with Chris Gibbs at Ruakaka, is thrilled that Volkstok’N’Barrell is heading to the Doncaster Mile in winning Group 1 form, but is very aware that the Chris Waller trained Winx will be very hard to beat.
“He couldn’t be better leading into the race but it will be a very big ask, especially with the likes of Winx in the race,” Logan said.
“I doubt whether he will ever get to carry 52.5kgs in a race ever again so we’ve got to take our chances as you don’t get a prize for sitting at home.”
Volkstok’N’Barrell is marked as a $26 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au for the Doncaster Mile with Winx heading the market order at $1.85.
Doncaster Mile market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.85 Winx, $7.50 Kermadec, $11 Azkadellia, $12 Happy Clapper, $13 Bow Creek, $17 First Seal, $21 Turn Me Loose, $26 Volkstok’N’Barrell, Good Project, He Or She, $51 Stratum Star, $61 Ecuador, Rudy, $101 Vergara, $201 Aomen.
