Damian Browne to defend Coast crown

At 45, Damian Browne is showing he still has what it takes as a leading rider ahead of the first Group Two meeting on his home track at the Sunshine Coast.

Browne is the leading winter carnival jockey having ridden 14 winner and claimed five feature races including the Group One Kingsford Smith Cup on Impending,

A former New Zealander, Browne recently rode his 1000th Australian winner which include 15 at Group One level.

He is currently riding on a stay after being suspended at Doomben last Saturday and will be free to ride Impending in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday week.

Before then, Browne is ready to show his wares at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday where he has long been known as the king.

He has seven rides for seven different trainers – Bring It Home Pop (Darryl Hansen), Only Wanna Sing (Robert Heathcote), Megablast (Nigel Tiley), Snoopy (Chris Munce), Legless Veuve (Henry Dwyer), Just Dreaming (Kris Lees) and Spectroscope (James Cummings),

“It is a good to ride at the carnival against the best jockeys but as I always say I love riding at Caloundra as it is only one traffic light away from home,” Browne said.

Browne lost the local premiership to Jeff Lloyd last season but has a handy advantage this term.