Observer prevails in Australian Guineas

A fall in the Australian Guineas almost claimed the life of Ethan Brown but three years on the jockey was the toast of Flemington after guiding Observer to success in the Group 1 feature. 

Brown was aboard Maximillius when the pair crashed in the Flemington straight in the 2024 edition of the Australian Guineas which left the jockey with a lacerated liver and kidney issues. 

It was a long-haul back for Brown who after making an initial comeback decided on another break to get his body right. 

Brown is now one of Melbourne's most sought-after riders and is a key component of the Ciaron Maher stable, the trainer of Observer who took out the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. 

Maher's National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull said Brown was one of his closest friends. 

"I see him sometimes more than my fiancee Tian during the week," Turnbull said. 

"He's a big part of our team. He's there two or three mornings a week, trials, gallops and he's one of the blokes you can ring up at any time and have a chat about the horses. 

"He's a special horse but he's got a special rider and it's special we got the job done today." 

Sent out the $1.85 favourite, Observer scored a half-length win from Planet Red ($7) with Sixties ($3.20) a short-head away third. 

Observer entered rare air on Saturday when he joined Mahogany as a winner of the Victoria Derby in the spring returning the following autumn to win the C S Hayes Stakes and Australian Guineas. 

The Maher trained Hitotsu returned from his Derby success in 2021 to win the Guineas first-up in 2022. 

Turnbull said Saturday's success was an important one for Observer and secures his future as a stallion while also opening options for the colt. 

"You've got the Australian Cup, Rosehill Guineas, Doncaster, if you waited a little bit longer, but winning this race really allows us to pivot and target races against the older horses if Godolphin desires," Turnbull said. 

"He's probably the closest thing we've likened to Hitotsu in terms of his racing style. 

"He's probably not as dynamic, but his ability to be winning a Derby and coming back to be a Group 1 mile Guineas winner at his next preparation is hard to do. 

"We're in a lovely position and we can savour the moment and really enjoy the win." 

Brown, who registered his 11th Group 1 win aboard Observer, said it was not ideal being down on the fence aboard the odds-on favourite. 

"I'm sure the punters were thinking 'what's going on here'," Brown said. 

"The main thing with him is getting him to relax and settle. That meant having to go down to the fence and riding a cool, patient race on him. 

"From there on in, the track is fair, we stuck to the fence and he did the rest. 

"He's a superstar."