The Melbourne Cup felt like a distant fantasy for Ethan Brown growing up in Darwin, and even more recently, achieving it seemed highly improbable.
There was a time not long ago when Brown contemplated retiring from his riding career, which began in the Northern Territory before his move to Victoria at the age of 15.
The 27-year-old jockey lacked the necessary motivation and confidence in his physical condition after a severe fall at Flemington in March 2023. Following a brief return later that year, he took an extended break for several months to focus on his recovery.
He made his comeback to the racing scene in January 2024.
In less than three years, Brown has firmly established himself as one of Australia’s elite riders and can now call himself a Melbourne Cup winner, having partnered Point Of Law to a dominant 3-3/4-length victory in the $10 million Group 1 over 3200 metres at Flemington.
“Don’t wake me up,” he said, his voice filled with emotion upon returning to scale on Point Of Law.
“I’m lost for words. I mean, where do you start?
“This is the race that we all try and win. To be in a position at such a young age to do so, I mean, it’s just indescribable.”
The fall, which occurred during the Australian Guineas while Brown was riding Maximillius, resulted in significant injuries including a lacerated liver, a severed artery, kidney damage, internal bleeding, and hairline fractures to three vertebrae in his lower back. He lost more than five litres of blood.
Brown, who had grappled with weight issues earlier in his career, leading to a previous spell on the sidelines, had considered taking up training while recuperating. However, he was dissuaded by Ciaron Maher, the trainer of his Melbourne Cup-winning mount.
“As they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and there were a lot of speed bumps from that fall to get it to my comeback. It was very hard at times,” Brown reflected.
“At one stage, I didn’t think I was going to come back. I didn’t think it would be worth it.
“But I had a slow burn and woke up one morning and thought I needed to get back riding and it’s all led to this moment now. I’ve just got to pinch myself.”
Since his return, Brown has secured nine of his 14 Group 1 wins, with all but one – the Moir Stakes success aboard Gavin Bedggood-trained Mornington Glory – trained by Maher. He has ridden more winners in Victoria this season than any other jockey, accumulating 38 wins, and currently sits third in the metropolitan jockey premiership on 15 wins, seven behind Blake Shinn.
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