Brown produces nugget of a ride

CHAMPION jockey Corey Brown walked into Flemington yesterday with a gold nugget the size of a golf ball in his pocket and walked out carrying a second Melbourne Cup.

The “lucky charm” was given to Brown, 41, the previous night but he was unable to take it into the $6.2 million classic because of its weight.

A property developer friend loaned him the nugget, found while “kicking around a property”, for the 3200m marathon.

“He’s taken it everywhere and everything he touches turns to gold,” Brown said after guiding Rekindling to victory for magnate Lloyd Williams, now a six-time winner of Australia’s biggest race, and blueblood young trainer Joseph O’Brien — son of Aidan.

“He (property developer) was good enough to give it to me last night and told me that it’s for luck. If that’s what worked (then) so be it.”

Brown was speechless after the race but thankful for the opportunity to ride for Williams and O’Brien.

He approached the owner six weeks ago for the ride on Rekindling — one of six Williams-owned Cup entrants.

“I had picked this one (Rekindling) out at the top of the list,” Brown said. “His credentials stood out more than the others and only having 51½ (kg) on his back limited riders, so I put my case forward.”

Brown piloted Rekindling perfectly despite landing in an awkward spot after the frenetic start.

But the crafty veteran worked through the field before popping three-and-four wide entering the straight, allowing Rekindling to reel in stablemate Johannes Vermeer.

“Once I got over the back, 1200m mark, there was a little bit of confusion in front of us and Max Dynamite (finished third) and I we squeezed hard against the fence, and got through the trouble,” Brown said.