Basilinna races into the 2025 Melbourne Cup field
Emma-Lee and David Browne are set to aim Basilinna toward the Melbourne Cup after her determined win in Saturday’s Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington secured a ballot-free entry into the great race.
Starting at $21, Basilinna thrived in the Soft 7 conditions under Dean Yendall, finishing strongly to win by 1¼ lengths over outsider Glentaneous ($101), with Ferneo ($14) another 1½ lengths away in third.
The victory guarantees the mare a spot in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in November and marks a milestone for the Browne stable since their move to Australia in 2022.
“I’m a little bit overwhelmed,” Emma-Lee Browne said post-race.
“She’s a horse that means a lot to me and I can’t believe that she did it.
“When the rain came we were pretty confident, but she is a proper princess and it might have been too much rain, but she just handled it so well.
“We’ve just got to wrap her in cotton wool now and we’ll be back here in November.
“It’s a massive thing for our whole stable.”
The win adds to a standout season for the couple, following their VOBIS Showdown success in March.
“We’ve had a great season, but this has really topped it off,” Browne said.
The mare’s backstory adds further sentiment—she’s out of So Royal, who was bought after the stable lost their beloved jumper Monarch Chimes.
“Her mum’s by Shinko King and I laughed and said ‘you can’t replace him’ but I think he’s done a pretty good job,” Browne added.
“We bred her and she’s done a pretty good job.
“Right from the start today, she was handling the track great and I think I will be the only one hoping for rain in November.”
To follow Basilinna’s spring lead-up and access odds on the Melbourne Cup, head over to Australia’s top betting sites.
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