In-form Brown Ben to make Melbourne debut

Brown Ben will be racing in a new environment when he makes his Melbourne debut but trainer Tony McEvoy is hoping the result is the same as the gelding’s recent races.

Four-year-old Brown Ben has put together three straight wins in Adelaide and is set to face a fresh challenge when he heads to Flemington for Saturday’s 1400m benchmark-78.

McEvoy is confident Brown Ben can rise to the challenge.

“He’s in great order,” McEvoy said.

“He’s been in work a long time, this little horse. He’s been in work for something like two thirds of the year but he’s absolutely thriving and there’s no signs whatsoever that he hasn’t got more to offer.”

“He’s just got to handle the trip over and settle in to Flemington which is new territory for him and I expect him to run very well.”

McEvoy scratched Brown Ben from a recent Moonee Valley race and instead kept him in South Australis where he won a 1600m-race at Morphettville.

“With his racing style and having barrier one at Moonee Valley, I just thought he was going to be in a very awkward position and that’s why we elected to stay in Adelaide where he drew wider,” McEvoy said.

“I thought he was certainly ready to go to Melbourne, and he came out and won again which proved it.”

Brown Ben is an elder half-brother to the McEvoy-trained Maribyrnong Plate winner Aspect.

McEvoy said they were completely different types, describing Aspect as a big, rangy colt while Brown Ben was a small gelding.

Brown Ben started his career at McEvoy’s former NSW base and the trainer said he had been immature earlier in his career.

“The owners were very patient and let me bring him to Adelaide and he’s just grown into himself and he’s now ready to show us his wares,” he said.

He said he would look to keep taking him through his grades.

Aspect, meanwhile, is in work and “ticking over quietly” as he builds towards a Blue Diamond Stakes campaign.

McEvoy has recent Ballarat winner Dollar For Dollar heading to Saturday’s 1600m benchmark race for three and four-year-olds.

Mr Markou is nominated for the same race and also entered in Adelaide.