Man of the moment Corey Brown has had a spectacular week at Flemington with the Victoria Derby, Melbourne Cup and Emirates Stakes under his belt.
Brown first rode Monaco Consul in the Victoria Derby, then Shocking in the Melbourne Cup and then had a surprise victory in the Emirates Stakes with All American.
After pleasing trainers Mike Moroney, Mark Kavanagh and David Hayes, the 33 year old also enjoyed a 5% share of the $4.8 million he accumulated for his owners over the three races.
With $240,000 earned for three days work, Brown can also expect a generous bonus from the three horses? owners.
But getting to this point of dominance in the racing industry has not been an easy road for the jockey.
This week alone the jockey has been in strife after bagging out the RSPCA?s credibility and he was fined $500 for his unnecessary use of the whip after passing the winning post in last Tuesday?s Melbourne Cup.
In 1993, a young 16 year old Corey Brown was riding Sonar Boy at Rosehill Gardens while experienced jockey Ken Russell rode Tuig.
Coming around the home bend, Russell?s mount Tuig shattered a leg and collapsed on the track.
With nowhere to go, Sonar Boy galloped straight into the disastrous situation which ultimately killed Russell.
Although innocent in the accident, Brown was greatly affected by the whole event and it took a few good men around him to convince the shaken jockey to get back in the saddle.
As he eventually became a champion apprentice, Brown could not resist the calls from Hong Kong and so a new chapter of his racing career began in the oriental city.
However his international career drew to a standstill for six months in 2005 when Hong Kong stewards suspended the jockey for drug-related offences.
Although Brown maintained his innocence in regards to the cocaine offences, he was forced to start from scratch again in Sydney.
During a period of continuous failures, Brown had trouble finding the right horse until he thought his luck had changed when he was called upon by Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman.
Moving the family to Melbourne, Brown took charge of the riding at Freedman?s stables but when the project fell apart, Freedman sacked the jockey and once again Brown was forced to start all over again.
This year has been a definite improvement with Brown first patching up things with Freedman after he rode Speed Gifted to victory in this year?s The Metropolitan.
Along with the three Group One wins from this week, Brown has also won the coveted Ron Hutchinson Excellence Award.
Whatever his history includes, Corey Brown can now consider himself one of the elite jockeys in the Australian racing industry and will undoubtedly see many more Group One victories in the future, particularly if David Hayes is ?happy to put him on his horses any time?.
